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 · wound · rest · temple · rash · field · rock · ball

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. ball — a great time
  3. rest — a break
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. rash — a series
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. field — farmland
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. pop — music
  10. wound — an injury
  11. rest — what's left
  12. ball — a dance
  13. rash — hasty
  14. pop — to visit
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. pop — soda
  17. wound — an injury
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. rock — a stone
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. rest — what's left
  22. field — for sport
  23. rock — music
  24. field — a subject

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