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: sharp · temple · rock · ball · mate · rush · stick · cap

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. rock — a stone
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. ball — a dance
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. cap — a hat
  9. cap — of ice
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. mate — to breed
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. mate — a friend
  16. mate — a partner
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. ball — a great time
  19. rock — music
  20. sharp — clever
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. cap — a lid
  24. rock — to move gently

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