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 120 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: track · temple · rock · safe · fall · wound · pitcher · can

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. can — a tin
  4. rock — a stone
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. track — a song
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. can — a tin
  14. rock — music
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. wound — an injury
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. fall — to drop
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. fall — the season
  21. wound — an injury
  22. track — to keep track
  23. fall — to drop
  24. track — a path

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