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 120 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. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. vault — a safe
  3. land — ground
  4. bound — tied together
  5. season — of the year
  6. march — the month
  7. bound — certain
  8. land — to come down
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. bound — obliged
  11. bear — the animal
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. bear — the animal
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. season — in sport
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. land — a country
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. march — the month

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