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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bound — obliged
  4. degree — temperature
  5. current — happening now
  6. mug — to rob
  7. net — in sport
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. current — electric
  10. degree — an amount
  11. toast — bread
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. net — after costs
  14. present — there
  15. degree — from a university
  16. current — of water
  17. bound — tied together
  18. mug — a cup
  19. mug — a face
  20. net — for catching
  21. bound — certain
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. present — the time now
  24. present — a gift

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