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: temple · bear · stand · trunk · board · calf · pop · rest

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. pop — music
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. board — a committee
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. board — to get on
  8. pop — soda
  9. bear — the animal
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. pop — to visit
  15. bear — the animal
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. rest — what's left
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. rest — what's left
  21. rest — a break
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. stand — to bear
  24. temple — side of the head

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