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: safe · pitch · deal · scale · straw · charge · mark · face

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. deal — to handle
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. mark — a grade
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. scale — in music
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. straw — dry grass
  11. mark — a trace
  12. pitch — completely
  13. scale — size or range
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. charge — electricity
  18. face — to point toward
  19. charge — a price
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. face — part of the head
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. charge — in control
  24. face — to confront

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