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 120 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. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. straw — dry grass
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. bank — of a river
  7. shower — to wash
  8. straw — a straw man
  9. rush — hurry
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. bank — for money
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. club — for dancing
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. bank — for money
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. pass — a permit
  22. shower — rain
  23. club — for golf
  24. club — a group

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