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 116 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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. bass — low music
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. staff — employees
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. cap — of ice
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. staff — a stick
  12. bass — the fish
  13. mug — a cup
  14. dip — to sink
  15. mug — a face
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. cap — a hat
  18. mine — for digging
  19. cap — a lid
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. mug — to rob
  24. calf — a young animal

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