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: temple · can · racket · hide · cue · bore · pitcher · deal

  1. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. cue — a signal
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. can — to be able to
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. can — a tin
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. can — a tin
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. cue — a hint
  18. bore — to drill
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. deal — to handle
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. bore — to tire
  23. cue — for pool
  24. temple — a place of worship

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