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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. face — to point toward
  5. mug — a face
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. scale — in music
  8. march — music
  9. scale — size or range
  10. face — to confront
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. bat — the animal
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bat — for baseball
  16. mug — a cup
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. bat — in an idiom
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. mug — to rob
  21. march — the month
  22. march — the month
  23. face — part of the head
  24. safe — out of danger

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