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: bulb · bear · chip · cue · mate · lie · saw · temple

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bear — the animal
  4. mate — a friend
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. bulb — for light
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. mate — to breed
  9. chip — for betting
  10. lie — to recline
  11. cue — a signal
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. cue — for pool
  14. bear — the animal
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. chip — to eat
  19. saw — the tool
  20. saw — the tool
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. cue — a hint
  24. mate — a partner

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