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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. mark — a trace
  3. spell — a short time
  4. stock — goods
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. prune — to trim
  7. field — farmland
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. field — for sport
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. rock — a stone
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. mark — a grade
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. field — a subject
  18. spell — letters
  19. rock — music
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. spell — magic
  22. stock — shares
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. prune — to trim

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