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 · temple · lean · deal · cabinet · pass · stand · net

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. stand — to bear
  4. net — after costs
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. deal — to handle
  7. clip — to cut
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. lean — thin
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. net — in sport
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. net — for catching
  17. lean — to bend
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. clip — a video
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. clip — for paper
  24. temple — a place of worship

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