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. False peace will not ________________.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. last — to go on
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. shower — rain
  4. bulb — for light
  5. game — a match
  6. band — a music group
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. shower — to wash
  12. last — finally
  13. branch — a division
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. bore — to tire
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. game — wild animals
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. band — a ring
  23. bore — to drill
  24. last — final

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