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: temple · bass · bulb · vault · shower · coach · cap · firm

  1. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. firm — decided
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. bulb — for light
  8. firm — steady
  9. bulb — for light
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. bass — the fish
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. bass — low music
  15. shower — to wash
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. cap — of ice
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. shower — rain
  22. cap — a hat
  23. firm — a company
  24. cap — a lid

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