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: cap · can · temple · season · sharp · saw · bulb · wound

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. season — in sport
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. wound — an injury
  6. can — to be able to
  7. season — of the year
  8. cap — a lid
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. saw — the tool
  11. cap — of ice
  12. sharp — clever
  13. can — a tin
  14. bulb — for light
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. can — a tin
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. bulb — for light
  22. saw — the tool
  23. wound — an injury
  24. cap — a hat

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