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 · current · race · saw · rush · bear · nail · board

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. race — humankind
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. rush — hurry
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. saw — the tool
  10. current — happening now
  11. bear — the animal
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. board — a committee
  15. race — the arms race
  16. saw — the tool
  17. current — electric
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. current — of water
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. race — a contest
  24. bear — the animal

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