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. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. roll — a list
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. rock — music
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. field — for sport
  17. field — farmland
  18. roll — a cake
  19. dip — to sink
  20. rock — a stone
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. safe — out of danger

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