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 120 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: snap · saw · bowl · dip · rush · safe · ball · cap

  1. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. saw — the tool
  3. saw — the tool
  4. cap — of ice
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. cap — a lid
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. ball — a great time
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. rush — hurry
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. snap — to click
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. ball — a dance
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. dip — to sink

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