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: vault · pitcher · wave · roll · arm · object · safe · current

  1. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. current — happening now
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. roll — a list
  10. object — an aim
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. current — of water
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. vault — a safe
  16. current — electric
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. roll — a cake
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. object — a thing
  24. wave — with your hand

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