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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. face — to point toward
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. cap — a lid
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. bank — of a river
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. key — in music
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. cap — a hat
  12. key — for a lock
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. bank — for money
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. face — to confront
  17. bank — for money
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. key — the most important part
  22. cap — of ice
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. mine — for digging

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