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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. bound — certain
  4. cell — a phone
  5. stand — to bear
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. wake — a trail
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. bound — obliged
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. bound — tied together
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. rock — a stone
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. cell — in biology
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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