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 116 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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. pit — in a race
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. pop — to visit
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. wound — an injury
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. wound — an injury
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. pop — soda
  16. pit — a hole
  17. file — a line of people
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. pop — music
  21. file — a tool
  22. file — a document
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. calf — a young animal

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