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 · dip · content · roll · last · lean · rash · bass

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. content — the amount
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. last — final
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. lean — to bend
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. last — to go on
  11. bass — the fish
  12. roll — a list
  13. content — videos and posts
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. last — finally
  16. bass — low music
  17. content — happy
  18. dip — to sink
  19. rash — a series
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rash — hasty
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. lean — thin
  24. dip — to dunk

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