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: ball · temple · net · key · nail · rock

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. ball — a great time
  3. net — in sport
  4. key — the most important part
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. rock — music
  7. net — for catching
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. net — after costs
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. key — in music
  16. key — for a lock
  17. ball — a dance
  18. rock — a stone

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