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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. pop — music
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. snap — to click
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. bear — the animal
  11. date — the fruit
  12. pop — soda
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. lie — to recline
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. pop — to visit
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. bear — the animal
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. safe — out of danger

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