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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. charge — in control
  5. court — of law
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. mug — a face
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. fine — all right
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. mug — to rob
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. charge — a price
  18. content — the amount
  19. mug — a cup
  20. fine — high quality
  21. charge — electricity
  22. court — for sport
  23. court — of a king
  24. content — happy

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