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 valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. lie — to recline
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. current — electric
  6. present — the time now
  7. object — an aim
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. present — there
  10. current — happening now
  11. current — of water
  12. object — to protest
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. cue — a hint
  16. shower — a meteor shower
  17. cue — a signal
  18. shower — rain
  19. present — a gift
  20. shower — to wash
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. cue — for pool

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