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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. sharp — clever
  6. clip — to cut
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. lie — to recline
  9. key — the most important part
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. rest — a break
  13. key — in music
  14. charge — electricity
  15. clip — for paper
  16. rest — what's left
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. rest — what's left
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. key — for a lock
  21. clip — a video
  22. charge — a price
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. charge — in control

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