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: bank · staff · cue · temple · bass · mate · nail · face

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. face — part of the head
  4. bass — low music
  5. mate — a friend
  6. face — to confront
  7. face — to point toward
  8. staff — employees
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. bank — of a river
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. staff — employees
  13. bank — for money
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. cue — for pool
  18. cue — a hint
  19. mate — to breed
  20. mate — a partner
  21. bank — for money
  22. staff — a stick
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. bass — the fish

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