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 120 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. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. bound — certain
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. bound — obliged
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. spell — magic
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. spring — the season
  10. cap — a lid
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. spell — letters
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. cap — a hat
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. wound — an injury
  17. foot — a measure
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. cap — of ice
  20. spring — of water
  21. spell — a short time
  22. bound — tied together
  23. spring — a coil
  24. wound — an injury

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