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: temple · press · track · staff · court · lean · rule · bulb

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. rule — a law
  3. press — to push
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. press — a publisher
  6. press — newspapers
  7. rule — government
  8. lean — to bend
  9. lean — thin
  10. staff — employees
  11. court — for sport
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. court — of a king
  15. staff — a stick
  16. track — a song
  17. track — to keep track
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. track — a path
  20. staff — employees
  21. rule — to rule out
  22. court — of law
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bulb — for light

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