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: rush · bulb · press · rock · ground · prune · hide · net

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. There's no middle ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. rock — a stone
  3. press — a publisher
  4. net — for catching
  5. rock — music
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. bulb — for light
  8. net — in sport
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. press — newspapers
  11. press — to push
  12. rush — hurry
  13. prune — to trim
  14. net — after costs
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. prune — to trim
  19. ground — crushed
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. ground — a position
  24. bulb — for light

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