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: snap · bound · rest · deal · bass · temple · staff · perch

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. deal — to handle
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. snap — to click
  6. staff — a stick
  7. bound — certain
  8. bound — tied together
  9. bass — low music
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. rest — what's left
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. staff — employees
  15. perch — the fish
  16. bass — the fish
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. staff — employees
  20. rest — a break
  21. bound — obliged
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. rest — what's left
  24. temple — side of the head

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