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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. staff — employees
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. object — a thing
  5. mark — a trace
  6. staff — a stick
  7. charge — in control
  8. mark — a grade
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. charge — electricity
  11. spell — letters
  12. fine — high quality
  13. fine — all right
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. object — to protest
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. charge — a price
  18. spell — a short time
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. staff — employees
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. spell — magic

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