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: face · net · pitcher · wave · jam · can · kick · temple

  1. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. can — to be able to
  5. can — a tin
  6. net — for catching
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. kick — in football
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. face — to confront
  16. can — a tin
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. face — to point toward
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. net — in sport
  21. face — part of the head
  22. net — after costs
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. pitcher — a jug

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