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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  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. pass — to spend time
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. pass — a permit
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. rash — a series
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. object — a thing
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. rash — hasty
  15. plane — a tool
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. object — an aim
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. sharp — clever
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. object — to protest
  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