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: mug · temple · pitcher · spell · wax · safe · rest · sharp

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. sharp — clever
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. wax — to grow
  8. mug — a face
  9. spell — a short time
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. rest — what's left
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mug — a cup
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. rest — what's left
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. spell — magic
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. mug — to rob
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. rest — a break
  24. spell — letters

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