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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. shower — rain
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. staff — a stick
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. sharp — clever
  9. pit — a hole
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. prune — to trim
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. deal — to handle
  15. prune — to trim
  16. pit — in a race
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. staff — employees
  19. shower — to wash
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. staff — employees
  24. safe — out of danger

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