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 120 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: temple · drill · pitcher · current · plane · cabinet · cue · calf

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. cue — a hint
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. drill — a practice
  7. current — happening now
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. cue — for pool
  10. drill — army training
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. current — of water
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. current — electric
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. cue — a signal
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. drill — the tool
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. plane — a tool

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