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: key · chair · safe · temple · file · row · lean · toast

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. chair — a leader
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. key — for a lock
  6. file — a line of people
  7. file — a tool
  8. file — a document
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. chair — to sit on
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. key — in music
  19. row — to paddle
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. toast — bread
  22. lean — to bend
  23. key — the most important part
  24. lean — thin

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