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 120 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 · saw · bound · last · bass · lash · sharp · fork

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. bass — low music
  6. sharp — clever
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. saw — the tool
  10. bound — tied together
  11. bound — certain
  12. bass — the fish
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. saw — the tool
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. last — finally
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. last — to go on
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. fork — in a road
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. bound — obliged
  24. last — final

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