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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. content — happy
  4. mug — a cup
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. spell — letters
  7. mug — to rob
  8. content — the amount
  9. perch — the fish
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. key — for a lock
  13. spell — magic
  14. key — the most important part
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bound — obliged
  19. bound — tied together
  20. spell — a short time
  21. key — in music
  22. bound — certain
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. mug — a face

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