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 120 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. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. chip — for betting
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. rock — music
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. sharp — clever
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. spring — of water
  14. straw — to clutch at straws
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. rock — a stone
  18. chip — to eat
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. straw — a straw man
  24. spring — a coil

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