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: bulb · key · season · chip · temple · safe · present · bass

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  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. temple — a place of worship
  2. key — the most important part
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. bulb — for light
  5. season — of the year
  6. bass — the fish
  7. chip — to eat
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. key — for a lock
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. season — in sport
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bass — low music
  18. chip — for betting
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. present — the time now
  21. key — in music
  22. present — there
  23. present — a gift
  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