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: straw · leaves · press · current · mark · plane · face · ball

  1. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. current — happening now
  3. plane — a tool
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. mark — a trace
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. press — a publisher
  10. ball — a great time
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. face — to point toward
  14. face — part of the head
  15. ball — a dance
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. press — newspapers
  18. face — to confront
  19. mark — a grade
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. current — electric
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. current — of water
  24. press — to push

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