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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. spring — of water
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. field — for sport
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. bound — obliged
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. spring — a coil
  10. bound — certain
  11. march — the month
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. field — a subject
  14. march — music
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. spring — the season
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. march — the month
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. field — farmland
  23. bound — tied together
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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