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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. chip — to eat
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. key — the most important part
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. key — in music
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. key — for a lock
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. foot — a measure
  23. chip — for betting
  24. patient — a sick person

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