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 · perch · temple · date · mine · press · safe · fork

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. press — newspapers
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. key — for a lock
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. key — the most important part
  13. date — the fruit
  14. fork — in a road
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. perch — the fish
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. press — a publisher
  20. key — in music
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. press — to push
  23. mine — for digging
  24. temple — a place of worship

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