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: spell · bound · degree · pass · hand · hide · temple · pitcher

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. degree — temperature
  4. pass — a permit
  5. hand — help
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. spell — magic
  10. spell — letters
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. degree — from a university
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. bound — tied together
  16. degree — an amount
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. hand — in cards
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. bound — certain
  21. bound — obliged
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. hide — animal skin

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