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: net · pitcher · foot · chip · content · rest · leaves · safe

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. net — after costs
  4. chip — for betting
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. content — happy
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. rest — what's left
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. foot — a measure
  14. rest — what's left
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. net — for catching
  20. content — the amount
  21. net — in sport
  22. rest — a break
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. safe — out of danger

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