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: fan · ball · foot · key · last · cabinet · temple · jam

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. ball — a dance
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. last — to go on
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. key — for a lock
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. foot — a measure
  12. ball — a great time
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. last — finally
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. last — final
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. key — the most important part
  24. fan — to cool the air

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