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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. mug — to rob
  4. track — to keep track
  5. key — for a lock
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. hand — help
  9. hand — in cards
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. mug — a face
  12. pop — music
  13. track — a song
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. bass — the fish
  16. key — in music
  17. pop — to visit
  18. key — the most important part
  19. mug — a cup
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. pop — soda
  22. bass — low music
  23. track — a path
  24. safe — a strongbox

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