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: drill · nail · bear · prune · hide · safe · bound · wound

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. prune — to trim
  3. drill — a practice
  4. drill — army training
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. wound — an injury
  7. wound — an injury
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. bound — obliged
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bound — tied together
  16. bound — certain
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. bear — the animal
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. drill — the tool
  24. prune — to trim

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