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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. mug — a cup
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. shower — rain
  6. saw — the tool
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. shower — to wash
  9. rock — music
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. mug — a face
  12. key — for a lock
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. rock — a stone
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. key — the most important part
  17. key — in music
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. wax — to grow
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. saw — the tool
  23. mug — to rob
  24. fork — in a road

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