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: pitcher · temple · bat · can · suit · track · plane · roll

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. bat — in an idiom
  3. roll — a cake
  4. bat — for baseball
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. track — to keep track
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. bat — the animal
  9. plane — a tool
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. can — a tin
  12. suit — in cards
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. can — a tin
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. suit — clothes
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. roll — a list
  22. track — a path
  23. suit — to fit
  24. can — to be able to

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