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. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. prune — to trim
  3. ball — a great time
  4. mug — a face
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. ball — a dance
  7. mug — a cup
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. scale — size or range
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. prune — to trim
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. scale — in music
  21. bulb — for light
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. mug — to rob
  24. mine — for digging

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