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 120 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: rule · charge · prune · cap · pitcher · temple · face · rush

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. cap — a lid
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. face — part of the head
  9. rush — hurry
  10. cap — of ice
  11. rule — government
  12. charge — a price
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. rule — a law
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. face — to point toward
  17. prune — to trim
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. rule — to rule out
  20. prune — to trim
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. cap — a hat
  23. charge — electricity
  24. face — to confront

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