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: board · mug · vault · last · charge · pitcher · plane · temple

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. last — finally
  4. mug — a cup
  5. last — to go on
  6. charge — electricity
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. vault — a safe
  9. mug — a face
  10. board — a committee
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. mug — to rob
  13. plane — a tool
  14. last — final
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. board — to get on
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. charge — a price
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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