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: bound · coach · snap · mug · temple · deal · cabinet · swing

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. bound — certain
  5. mug — a cup
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. swing — to play on
  8. bound — tied together
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. deal — to handle
  14. bound — obliged
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. swing — in golf
  18. swing — music
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. mug — to rob
  21. snap — to click
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. cabinet — ministers

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