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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. deal — to handle
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. spring — the season
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. spring — of water
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. rule — to rule out
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. spring — a coil
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. last — to go on
  18. rule — a law
  19. last — final
  20. last — finally
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. rule — government

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