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. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. ball — a dance
  6. cap — of ice
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. roll — a cake
  10. cap — a hat
  11. lean — to bend
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. cap — a lid
  15. bat — in an idiom
  16. can — a tin
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. lean — thin
  19. bat — the animal
  20. can — a tin
  21. ball — a great time
  22. can — to be able to
  23. bat — for baseball
  24. temple — side of the head

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