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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. bore — to tire
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. scale — in music
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. fine — all right
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. scale — size or range
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. fine — high quality
  17. pit — a hole
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. bore — to drill
  21. pit — in a race
  22. wake — a trail
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. scale — for weighing

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