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: temple · leaves · season · sharp · cabinet · chest · degree · safe

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  3. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  4. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. chest — a box
  3. degree — temperature
  4. chest — of your body
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. sharp — clever
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. season — of the year
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. degree — an amount
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. chest — of your body
  17. season — in sport
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. degree — from a university
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. safe — out of danger

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