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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. mark — a trace
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. chip — for betting
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — to be able to
  7. last — finally
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. can — a tin
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. chip — to eat
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. last — final
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. rash — hasty
  19. plane — a tool
  20. mark — a grade
  21. last — to go on
  22. rash — a series
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. mark — to pay attention

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