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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. key — for a lock
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. bound — obliged
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. fine — all right
  10. land — a country
  11. bound — tied together
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. key — in music
  15. fine — high quality
  16. land — ground
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. land — to come down
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. bound — certain
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. key — the most important part

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