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: saw · march · racket · suit · temple · leaves · mark · bank

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. mark — a grade
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. march — the month
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. march — the month
  8. suit — in cards
  9. bank — of a river
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. mark — a trace
  14. suit — clothes
  15. bank — for money
  16. saw — the tool
  17. march — music
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. saw — the tool
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. suit — to fit
  24. bank — for money

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