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: staff · safe · wake · race · nail · sharp · cabinet · fan

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  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. wake — a trail
  2. staff — employees
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. race — humankind
  6. staff — employees
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. race — a contest
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. sharp — clever
  14. staff — a stick
  15. race — the arms race
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. fan — a supporter
  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