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: bowl · cabinet · object · jam · scale · mouse · temple · rush

  1. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. scale — in music
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. object — an aim
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. scale — size or range
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. rush — hurry
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. object — a thing
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. cabinet — ministers

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