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: jam · lie · craft · chest · temple · date · fine · bound

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  16. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. bound — certain
  6. date — the fruit
  7. fine — high quality
  8. craft — a skill
  9. bound — obliged
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. fine — all right
  12. chest — of your body
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. chest — of your body
  16. chest — a box
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. bound — tied together
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. craft — boats
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. lie — to recline

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