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: dip · pit · scale · fan · roll · temple · wound · bore

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. scale — size or range
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. roll — a cake
  6. roll — a list
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. pit — a hole
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. bore — to drill
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. wound — an injury
  17. pit — in a race
  18. scale — in music
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. wound — an injury
  24. bore — to tire

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