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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: key · fan · bank · safe · arm · shower · object · perch

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. perch — the fish
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. shower — rain
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. object — to protest
  9. shower — to wash
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. key — in music
  12. bank — for money
  13. object — a thing
  14. bank — for money
  15. object — an aim
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. bank — of a river
  18. key — for a lock
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. key — the most important part
  24. safe — out of danger

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