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: clip · staff · temple · coach · chair · pass · spell · can

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. clip — a video
  3. can — a tin
  4. spell — letters
  5. chair — a professorship
  6. can — a tin
  7. clip — to cut
  8. staff — employees
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. spell — a short time
  11. spell — magic
  12. staff — employees
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. clip — for paper
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. can — to be able to
  17. pass — a permit
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. staff — a stick
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. chair — to sit on
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. chair — a leader

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