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: temple · deal · rush · lie · club · date · mine · wake

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. mine — for digging
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. club — for golf
  9. deal — to handle
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. club — for dancing
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. date — the fruit
  15. club — a group
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. rush — hurry
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. lie — to recline
  22. wake — a trail
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. mine — an explosive

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