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: fan · mug · stand · file · press · ball · bound · branch

  1. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. ball — a dance
  4. press — to push
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. bound — tied together
  7. mug — a face
  8. press — newspapers
  9. press — a publisher
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. bound — obliged
  12. branch — a division
  13. stand — to bear
  14. ball — a great time
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. bound — certain
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. file — a document
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. file — a line of people
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mug — to rob
  24. fan — a supporter

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