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. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. fork — in a road
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. bound — obliged
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. bound — tied together
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. rest — what's left
  14. saw — the tool
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. snap — to click
  17. bound — certain
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. rest — a break
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. saw — the tool
  22. rest — what's left
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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