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 116 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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bulb — for light
  3. file — a tool
  4. file — a document
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. bound — tied together
  7. pit — in a race
  8. file — a line of people
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. bound — obliged
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bound — certain
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pit — a hole
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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