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: snap · roll · present · key · mark · stem · pit · press

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. press — newspapers
  3. key — in music
  4. press — to push
  5. pit — in a race
  6. roll — a list
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. present — the time now
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. roll — a cake
  13. mark — a trace
  14. key — the most important part
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. press — a publisher
  17. key — for a lock
  18. present — a gift
  19. stem — to come from
  20. pit — a hole
  21. snap — to click
  22. present — there
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. mark — a grade

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