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: rest · game · safe · board · face · bay · fan · arm

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. game — wild animals
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. board — a committee
  10. rest — a break
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. face — to confront
  13. face — part of the head
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. rest — what's left
  16. face — to point toward
  17. board — to get on
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. rest — what's left
  24. game — a match

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