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: pit · deal · mouse · band · bound · temple · coach · face

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. bound — tied together
  3. band — a ring
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. face — to confront
  7. bound — obliged
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. bound — certain
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. pit — in a race
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. band — a music group
  19. face — to point toward
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. pit — a hole
  22. face — part of the head
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. mouse — for a computer

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