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: safe · bass · suit · bulb · charge · hide · last · net

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. net — for catching
  5. charge — electricity
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. suit — clothes
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. suit — to fit
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. last — finally
  12. suit — in cards
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bass — low music
  15. net — in sport
  16. bass — the fish
  17. last — to go on
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. last — final
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. net — after costs
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. bulb — for light
  24. charge — in control

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