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: lash · degree · ground · rash · pass · key · temple · rock

  1. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — crushed
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. key — for a lock
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. degree — an amount
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. rash — a series
  9. rash — hasty
  10. degree — temperature
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rock — music
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. rock — a stone
  15. ground — a position
  16. degree — from a university
  17. pass — a permit
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. key — in music
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. ground — the earth
  22. key — the most important part
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. lash — to lash out

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