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: safe · board · can · pass · net · press · rest · wound

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. board — a committee
  3. net — for catching
  4. can — a tin
  5. wound — an injury
  6. board — to get on
  7. net — in sport
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. can — to be able to
  10. can — a tin
  11. rest — what's left
  12. press — a publisher
  13. net — after costs
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. rest — what's left
  16. pass — a permit
  17. rest — a break
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. wound — an injury
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. press — to push
  24. press — newspapers

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