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. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — child
  2. fine — all right
  3. charge — in control
  4. pop — soda
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. pop — to visit
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. charge — a price
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. charge — electricity
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. sharp — clever
  17. fine — high quality
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pop — music
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. kid — to tease
  24. safe — out of danger

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