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 trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. rest — what's left
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. current — happening now
  11. kid — to tease
  12. rest — a break
  13. current — electric
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. bulb — for light
  16. can — a tin
  17. rest — what's left
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  20. can — a tin
  21. current — of water
  22. can — to be able to
  23. kid — child
  24. trunk — of a car

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