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 dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. roll — a list
  3. spell — a short time
  4. face — to confront
  5. spell — magic
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. object — an aim
  10. shower — rain
  11. face — to point toward
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. face — part of the head
  14. fine — high quality
  15. shower — to wash
  16. date — the fruit
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. object — a thing
  19. fine — all right
  20. object — to protest
  21. roll — a cake
  22. spell — letters
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. temple — a place of worship

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