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: pass · fork · lash · temple · saw · key · sharp · race

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. race — the arms race
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. key — for a lock
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. fork — in a road
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. key — the most important part
  10. race — humankind
  11. saw — the tool
  12. race — a contest
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. key — in music
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. saw — the tool
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. sharp — clever
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. sharp — with an edge

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