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: arm · scale · rule · cabinet · temple · leaves · dip · season

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  12. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. dip — to sink
  4. scale — in music
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. scale — size or range
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. season — in sport
  11. rule — government
  12. rule — to rule out
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. rule — a law
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. season — of the year
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. scale — for weighing

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