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: mouse · wave · press · branch · jam · season · face · pop

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. season — in sport
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. press — a publisher
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. pop — soda
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. season — of the year
  13. pop — to visit
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. face — part of the head
  16. press — to push
  17. face — to point toward
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. press — newspapers
  21. branch — a division
  22. face — to confront
  23. pop — music
  24. branch — of a tree

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