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: roll · track · rest · toast · temple · trunk · face · mug

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. face — part of the head
  3. rest — what's left
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. roll — a cake
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. roll — a list
  9. face — to confront
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. mug — a face
  13. rest — a break
  14. track — a song
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. mug — to rob
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. face — to point toward
  19. toast — bread
  20. track — a path
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. mug — a cup
  24. rest — what's left

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