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: rock · suit · temple · date · vault · jam · toast · game

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. date — the fruit
  4. vault — a safe
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. game — wild animals
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. suit — in cards
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. game — a match
  13. suit — clothes
  14. toast — bread
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. rock — a stone
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. suit — to fit
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. rock — music

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