ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: row · ruler · press · rock · pit · season · land · toast

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. season — of the year
  3. pit — in a race
  4. press — a publisher
  5. pit — a hole
  6. season — in sport
  7. land — ground
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. land — a country
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. row — a line
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. rock — music
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. land — to come down
  20. toast — bread
  21. press — to push
  22. rock — a stone
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. press — newspapers

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com