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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. foot — a measure
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. net — in sport
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. rash — hasty
  8. court — for sport
  9. saw — the tool
  10. net — for catching
  11. court — of a king
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. rash — a series
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. saw — the tool
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. net — after costs
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. court — of law
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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