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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. mark — a trace
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. bark — to shout
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. spring — a coil
  11. pass — a permit
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. fine — all right
  16. spring — of water
  17. pop — soda
  18. mark — a grade
  19. pop — to visit
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. spring — the season
  22. fine — high quality
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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