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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. current — electric
  4. land — to come down
  5. vault — a safe
  6. land — ground
  7. bass — low music
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. current — of water
  10. land — a country
  11. current — happening now
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. rash — a series
  14. track — a song
  15. track — a path
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. rash — hasty
  20. track — to keep track
  21. bass — the fish
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. temple — a place of worship

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