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 120 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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  18. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. mate — a partner
  3. ball — a great time
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. kid — to tease
  10. chip — for betting
  11. rush — hurry
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. mate — a friend
  16. ball — a dance
  17. kid — child
  18. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. mate — to breed
  23. chip — to eat
  24. safe — a strongbox

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