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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. bank — of a river
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. deal — to handle
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. bank — for money
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. bound — certain
  17. bank — for money
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. bound — obliged
  21. bound — tied together
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. jam — a tight spot

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