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 116 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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. wake — a trail
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. cap — a hat
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. cap — of ice
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. wound — an injury
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. wind — to turn a key
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. cap — a lid
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. suit — in cards
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. wind — moving air
  21. suit — clothes
  22. wound — an injury
  23. wind — moving air
  24. suit — to fit

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