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 · game · rash · wake · ruler · spell · press · toast

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. press — newspapers
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. spell — letters
  6. wake — a trail
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. fine — high quality
  9. toast — bread
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. game — wild animals
  14. fine — all right
  15. rash — a series
  16. spell — magic
  17. press — a publisher
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. game — a match
  20. rash — hasty
  21. spell — a short time
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. toast — the most admired

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