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: can · perch · calf · face · mark · temple · spell · wound

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. mark — a grade
  3. face — part of the head
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. mark — a trace
  7. spell — magic
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. can — a tin
  13. wound — an injury
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. can — to be able to
  17. face — to point toward
  18. wound — an injury
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. face — to confront
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. spell — a short time
  23. spell — letters
  24. perch — the fish

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