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: firm · mug · temple · present · ball · foot

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. ball — a great time
  4. present — a gift
  5. mug — a cup
  6. present — the time now
  7. foot — a measure
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. ball — a dance
  10. firm — steady
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. present — there
  14. mug — to rob
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. firm — decided
  17. mug — a face
  18. firm — a company

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