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 put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  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. chair — to sit on
  2. suit — in cards
  3. drill — army training
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. suit — clothes
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. suit — to fit
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. chair — a professorship
  13. net — for catching
  14. net — after costs
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. net — in sport
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. drill — a practice
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. chair — a leader
  23. drill — the tool
  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