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: hide · scale · safe · fork · kick · key · coach · bark

  1. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. fork — in a road
  3. key — in music
  4. bark — to shout
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. key — for a lock
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. scale — in music
  17. scale — size or range
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. kick — in football
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. key — the most important part
  24. coach — a trainer

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