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: bound · wound · last · suit · racket · jam · press · field

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. last — finally
  5. bound — certain
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. bound — tied together
  8. last — to go on
  9. bound — obliged
  10. wound — an injury
  11. press — to push
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. suit — to fit
  16. suit — clothes
  17. field — farmland
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. last — final
  20. press — a publisher
  21. field — a subject
  22. wound — an injury
  23. field — for sport
  24. suit — in cards

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