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: cap · wake · temple · drill · mine · bank · nail · stand

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. bank — of a river
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. stand — to bear
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. drill — the tool
  12. cap — of ice
  13. wake — a trail
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. bank — for money
  16. cap — a hat
  17. mine — for digging
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. drill — a practice
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. cap — a lid
  22. bank — for money
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. wake — before a funeral

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