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 116 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: plane · press · shower · pass · root · staff · patient · rush

  1. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. plane — a tool
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. pass — a permit
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. rush — hurry
  7. staff — a stick
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. staff — employees
  11. press — a publisher
  12. staff — employees
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. press — to push
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. root — the cause
  18. shower — to wash
  19. press — newspapers
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. root — of a word
  24. root — of a plant

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