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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. charge — in control
  4. bat — for baseball
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. ball — a dance
  8. mark — a grade
  9. charge — a price
  10. ball — a great time
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. bat — the animal
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. charge — electricity
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. mark — a trace
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. bat — in an idiom
  24. sharp — exactly

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