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: bank · bulb · saw · temple · racket · season · hide · ball

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. bank — for money
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. bank — of a river
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. bank — for money
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. saw — the tool
  11. season — of the year
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. bulb — for light
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. season — in sport
  21. bulb — for light
  22. ball — a dance
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. ball — a great time

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