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: straw · fine · bark · safe · temple · rock · wake · wound

  1. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. wake — a trail
  5. straw — to clutch at straws
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. rock — music
  14. wound — an injury
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. rock — a stone
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. wound — an injury
  21. fine — all right
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bark — to shout
  24. fine — high quality

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