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: ball · temple · mouse · shower · club · plane · racket · staff

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. plane — a tool
  6. shower — rain
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. club — for dancing
  9. ball — a dance
  10. ball — a great time
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. staff — employees
  16. shower — to wash
  17. staff — employees
  18. club — for golf
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. club — a group
  23. mouse — for a computer
  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