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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. lean — to bend
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. track — a song
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. land — ground
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. deal — to handle
  12. lean — thin
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. tube — a container
  15. land — a country
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. tube — the underground
  20. land — to come down
  21. track — to keep track
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. track — a path
  24. jam — in traffic

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