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: pop · rock · date · plane · leaves · calf · nail · temple

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. pop — music
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. pop — to visit
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. rock — music
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. date — the fruit
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. plane — a tool
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. pop — soda

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