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: wave · suit · temple · present · squash · nail · key · chest

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. chest — of your body
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. key — the most important part
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. suit — to fit
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. present — the time now
  10. suit — clothes
  11. chest — of your body
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. key — for a lock
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. present — there
  16. squash — the sport
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. squash — to crush
  19. key — in music
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. chest — a box
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. present — a gift
  24. wave — with your hand

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