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: roll · bear · pop · temple · mug · tube · staff · fan

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. pop — music
  5. mug — a face
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. roll — a cake
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. staff — employees
  10. bear — the animal
  11. pop — soda
  12. bear — the animal
  13. staff — employees
  14. pop — to visit
  15. staff — a stick
  16. mug — a cup
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. tube — the underground
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. tube — a container
  22. mug — to rob
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. bear — to put up with

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