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: toast · swing · club · branch · rash · ball · press · bulb

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. bulb — for light
  3. swing — music
  4. club — a group
  5. press — newspapers
  6. swing — in golf
  7. bulb — for light
  8. toast — bread
  9. ball — a great time
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. rash — hasty
  14. rash — a series
  15. swing — to play on
  16. press — a publisher
  17. club — for dancing
  18. ball — a dance
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. branch — a division
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. press — to push
  24. club — for golf

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