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: bank · content · bound · scale · temple · bowl · key · wind

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  15. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. bound — obliged
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. bank — for money
  6. key — for a lock
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. content — happy
  9. bound — certain
  10. bound — tied together
  11. key — the most important part
  12. key — in music
  13. bank — of a river
  14. wind — to turn a key
  15. wind — moving air
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. scale — size or range
  19. wind — moving air
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. content — the amount
  22. bank — for money
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. temple — side of the head

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