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

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. mark — a trace
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. vault — a safe
  5. branch — a division
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. wake — a trail
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. bore — to drill
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. ball — a dance
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. mark — a grade
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. ball — a great time
  19. bore — to tire
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. key — the most important part
  23. key — in music
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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