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: spell · pitch · hide · rush · nail · temple · pit · tube

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. rush — hurry
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. spell — letters
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. tube — the underground
  10. pit — a hole
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. spell — magic
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. spell — a short time
  16. pitch — completely
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. pit — in a race

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