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 120 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: mouse · bulb · rash · bound · sharp · saw · press · rest

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. press — a publisher
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. sharp — clever
  6. bound — obliged
  7. press — newspapers
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. press — to push
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. rest — a break
  13. bound — tied together
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. saw — the tool
  16. rest — what's left
  17. rash — hasty
  18. rest — what's left
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. bound — certain
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. rash — a series
  23. bulb — for light
  24. saw — the tool

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