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: leaves · stand · press · pitch · vault · file · board · saw

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. file — a tool
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. stand — to bear
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. vault — a safe
  11. board — to get on
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. pitch — completely
  14. press — newspapers
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. saw — the tool
  19. file — a line of people
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. saw — the tool
  22. press — a publisher
  23. board — a committee
  24. file — a document

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