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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. sharp — clever
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. saw — the tool
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. rash — hasty
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. saw — the tool
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. rash — a series
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. dip — to sink
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. dip — to dunk

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