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: face · tube · bark · perch · pass · trunk · temple · rock

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. face — part of the head
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. tube — the underground
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. rock — music
  10. face — to point toward
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. pass — a permit
  13. tube — a container
  14. perch — the fish
  15. face — to confront
  16. bark — a dog's sound
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. rock — a stone
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. temple — side of the head

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