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 · nail · shower · dip · season · temple · scale · plane

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. plane — a tool
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. cap — a hat
  6. scale — size or range
  7. shower — to wash
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. season — of the year
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. cap — a lid
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. dip — to sink
  19. cap — of ice
  20. shower — rain
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. scale — in music
  23. season — in sport
  24. season — to add flavour

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