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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  7. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. wake — a trail
  5. cue — for pool
  6. band — a music group
  7. band — a ring
  8. face — part of the head
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. cue — a signal
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. rush — hurry
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. face — to confront
  19. cue — a hint
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. face — to point toward
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. wake — before a funeral

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