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: board · safe · fan · stand · date · bulb · bore · lie

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. board — a committee
  11. date — the fruit
  12. bore — to tire
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. bulb — for light
  16. board — to get on
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. stand — to bear
  21. bore — to drill
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. lie — to recline

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