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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: march · arm · firm · bass · bound · stand · temple · bank

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. bound — tied together
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. bound — obliged
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. firm — decided
  10. firm — a company
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. march — the month
  13. firm — steady
  14. bass — low music
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. march — the month
  17. bound — certain
  18. march — music
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. bank — for money
  21. bass — the fish
  22. bank — for money
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. stand — to bear

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