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: toast · safe · face · foot · key · pitch · shower · bulb

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. pitch — completely
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. bulb — for light
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. toast — bread
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. foot — a measure
  11. face — part of the head
  12. shower — to wash
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. bulb — for light
  16. key — for a lock
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — in music
  21. face — to confront
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. shower — rain
  24. face — to point toward

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