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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. tube — a container
  4. mine — for digging
  5. net — in sport
  6. suit — clothes
  7. bound — certain
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. tube — the underground
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. bound — tied together
  16. ball — a dance
  17. net — for catching
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. suit — to fit
  20. net — after costs
  21. ball — a great time
  22. suit — in cards
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. ball — a round shape

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