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: suit · roll · temple · rule · date · sharp · fork · mate

  1. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  16. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. suit — clothes
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. suit — in cards
  10. mate — a partner
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. rule — to rule out
  13. date — the fruit
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. rule — government
  16. fork — to eat with
  17. sharp — clever
  18. roll — a cake
  19. mate — to breed
  20. mate — a friend
  21. roll — a list
  22. suit — to fit
  23. fork — in a road
  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