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: hide · lie · wave · temple · face · safe · pound · racket

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. face — to confront
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. pound — for dogs
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. face — to point toward
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. pound — to hit hard
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. pound — a weight
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. face — part of the head
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. lie — to recline

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