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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. can — to be able to
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. can — a tin
  7. mate — to breed
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. wind — moving air
  10. mate — a partner
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. vault — a safe
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. wind — moving air
  18. ball — a great time
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. mate — a friend
  23. ball — a dance
  24. fan — a supporter

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