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 120 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: pit · bowl · temple · leaves · ground · foot · lean · rock

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. pit — a hole
  4. rock — a stone
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. pit — in a race
  8. rock — music
  9. ground — a position
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. ground — crushed
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. lean — thin
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. lean — to bend
  17. foot — a measure
  18. ground — the earth
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. bowl — to roll
  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