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

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. mug — a cup
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. fine — all right
  6. mug — to rob
  7. march — the month
  8. mug — a face
  9. field — a subject
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. field — for sport
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. field — farmland
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. fine — high quality
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. march — music
  23. march — the month
  24. fine — a penalty

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