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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. lean — to bend
  3. bound — tied together
  4. pitch — completely
  5. file — a line of people
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. saw — the tool
  10. file — a document
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. bound — obliged
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. saw — the tool
  16. stock — goods
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. stock — shares
  21. lean — thin
  22. file — a tool
  23. bowl — a football final
  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