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 was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. chip — to eat
  3. bass — the fish
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. cue — a hint
  6. court — of law
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. bass — low music
  10. court — of a king
  11. kid — child
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. kid — to tease
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. court — for sport
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. fork — in a road
  21. cue — for pool
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. cue — a signal
  24. chip — for betting

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