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: march · lie · safe · temple · key · toast · stock · foot

  1. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. foot — a measure
  3. key — the most important part
  4. key — for a lock
  5. key — in music
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. stock — goods
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. march — the month
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. toast — bread
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. lie — to recline
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. march — music
  19. march — the month
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. stock — shares
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. safe — out of danger
  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