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: spell · safe · ball · pound · game · staff · hand · tube

  1. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  24. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — to hit hard
  2. spell — magic
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. hand — help
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. staff — employees
  8. game — a match
  9. tube — a container
  10. ball — a great time
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. staff — employees
  14. hand — in cards
  15. spell — letters
  16. staff — a stick
  17. game — wild animals
  18. spell — a short time
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. tube — the underground
  21. ball — a dance
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. pound — for dogs
  24. pound — a weight

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