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. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. hand — help
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. hand — in cards
  15. rush — hurry
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. pitch — completely
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. cell — a phone
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. hide — animal skin

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