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: dip · ruler · track · temple · season · roll · wave · last

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. last — finally
  3. track — to keep track
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. roll — a list
  7. track — a song
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. dip — to sink
  11. season — in sport
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. roll — a cake
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. track — a path
  16. last — final
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. last — to go on
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. ruler — a monarch

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