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: fine · date · rash · track · press · staff · bowl · fan

  1. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. press — newspapers
  3. staff — employees
  4. track — to keep track
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. press — a publisher
  7. staff — employees
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. track — a song
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. rash — hasty
  15. press — to push
  16. staff — a stick
  17. rash — a series
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. track — a path
  20. fine — all right
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. date — the fruit
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. fine — high quality

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