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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bear — the animal
  4. prune — to trim
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. land — a country
  7. land — to come down
  8. prune — to trim
  9. bound — certain
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. season — in sport
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. season — of the year
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bear — the animal
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. land — ground
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. bound — obliged
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. cabinet — ministers

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