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: cap · sharp · board · bore · jam · key · bay · temple

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. sharp — clever
  3. bore — to tire
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. key — in music
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. board — a committee
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. bore — to drill
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. cap — a hat
  18. key — for a lock
  19. key — the most important part
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. cap — of ice
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. cap — a lid
  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