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. When was this ________________ built?
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. suit — to fit
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. tear — to rip
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. date — the fruit
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — a tin
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. tear — from crying
  17. suit — clothes
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. tear — from crying
  20. deal — to handle
  21. can — to be able to
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. suit — in cards

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