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: land · key · snap · bay · vault · bulb · jam · temple

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.

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 — side of the head
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. vault — a safe
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. key — the most important part
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. key — in music
  14. land — to come down
  15. land — ground
  16. snap — to click
  17. bulb — for light
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. key — for a lock
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. land — a country

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