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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. mate — to breed
  3. scale — size or range
  4. row — to paddle
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. prune — to trim
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. charge — a price
  12. mate — a partner
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. scale — in music
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. charge — electricity
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. toast — bread
  20. row — a line
  21. charge — in control
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. mate — a friend
  24. prune — to trim

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