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: cue · temple · bulb · snap · bowl · bay · scale · spring

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. spring — of water
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. bulb — for light
  6. spring — the season
  7. cue — for pool
  8. scale — in music
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. cue — a signal
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. cue — a hint
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. spring — a coil
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. snap — to click
  24. temple — side of the head

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