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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. key — for a lock
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. key — the most important part
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. bank — for money
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. key — in music
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. stand — to bear
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. bank — of a river
  22. bank — for money
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. trunk — of a car

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