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: can · staff · net · fan · safe · land · temple · snap

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. When are we going to ________________?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. staff — a stick
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. land — a country
  7. staff — employees
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. can — a tin
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. net — for catching
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. land — ground
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. net — after costs
  18. staff — employees
  19. can — a tin
  20. snap — to click
  21. land — to come down
  22. can — to be able to
  23. net — in sport
  24. safe — a strongbox

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