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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. object — an aim
  4. rush — hurry
  5. object — a thing
  6. stem — to come from
  7. object — to protest
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. cell — in biology
  18. scale — in music
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. scale — size or range
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. cell — a phone

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