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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. bound — certain
  4. drill — army training
  5. bound — obliged
  6. spell — magic
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. drill — the tool
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. saw — the tool
  11. tear — to rip
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bulb — for light
  14. rush — hurry
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. bulb — for light
  18. tear — from crying
  19. spell — a short time
  20. drill — a practice
  21. bound — tied together
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. spell — letters
  24. tear — from crying

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