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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. toast — bread
  3. net — in sport
  4. net — after costs
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. board — to get on
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. present — the time now
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. present — a gift
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. net — for catching
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. board — a committee
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. present — there
  23. sharp — clever
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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