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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. row — to paddle
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. rock — music
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. rock — a stone
  15. tear — from crying
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. row — a line
  18. tear — from crying
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. perch — the fish
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. tear — to rip
  24. bowl — a football final

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