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: row · press · bear · nail · jam · pitch · current · fan

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. pitch — completely
  3. row — a line
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. bear — the animal
  6. press — to push
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. current — of water
  9. current — electric
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. bear — the animal
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. row — to paddle
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. press — newspapers
  23. current — happening now
  24. row — a quarrel

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