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: bear · board · ball · face · mine · can · mate · temple

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. can — to be able to
  3. can — a tin
  4. ball — a dance
  5. mate — to breed
  6. face — to confront
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. face — to point toward
  9. mate — a partner
  10. face — part of the head
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. bear — the animal
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. mate — a friend
  16. ball — a great time
  17. board — to get on
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. mine — for digging
  20. board — a committee
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. can — a tin
  24. bear — the animal

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