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: pop · temple · key · chair · bay · branch · spell · chest

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. spell — magic
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. pop — soda
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. key — the most important part
  8. chair — a leader
  9. key — for a lock
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. chest — of your body
  13. pop — music
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. chest — a box
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. spell — letters
  19. spell — a short time
  20. branch — a division
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. chest — of your body
  23. pop — to visit
  24. key — in music

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