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: roll · fall · safe · drill · rest · ground · bay · face

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. face — part of the head
  4. fall — the season
  5. fall — to drop
  6. drill — the tool
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. ground — the earth
  10. ground — a position
  11. drill — a practice
  12. face — to point toward
  13. rest — what's left
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. roll — a list
  17. roll — a cake
  18. ground — crushed
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. rest — what's left
  22. fall — to drop
  23. rest — a break
  24. face — to confront

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