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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. bulb — for light
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. straw — a straw man
  19. bulb — for light
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. sharp — clever
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  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