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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. rash — a series
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bound — certain
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. face — to point toward
  8. field — farmland
  9. rash — hasty
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. field — a subject
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. lean — to bend
  14. lean — thin
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. field — for sport
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. face — to confront
  19. bound — obliged
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. bound — tied together
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. face — part of the head

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