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: lie · safe · bowl · squash · object · rash · row · ball

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. squash — the sport
  3. object — to protest
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. squash — to crush
  6. row — a line
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. lie — to recline
  11. object — an aim
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. ball — a dance
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. ball — a great time
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. rash — a series
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. rash — hasty
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. row — to paddle

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