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: cabinet · roll · bulb · pitch · season · wave · temple · hand

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. bulb — for light
  3. hand — in cards
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. pitch — completely
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. roll — a cake
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. season — in sport
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. roll — a list
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. bulb — for light
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. season — of the year
  22. hand — help
  23. bulb — of a plant
  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