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 116 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: net · key · mate · degree · bore · leaves · safe · tube

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. key — the most important part
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. mate — a partner
  5. bore — to tire
  6. net — for catching
  7. tube — the underground
  8. degree — temperature
  9. net — after costs
  10. key — in music
  11. degree — from a university
  12. net — in sport
  13. key — for a lock
  14. tube — a container
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. degree — an amount
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. mate — a friend
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. mate — to breed
  23. bore — to drill
  24. safe — out of danger

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