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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. fall — the season
  6. board — to get on
  7. fall — to drop
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. lean — to bend
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bulb — for light
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. lean — thin
  19. fall — to drop
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. board — a committee
  22. sharp — clever
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. bulb — for light

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