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: tube · mug · safe · kid · dip · stock · toast · fall

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. fall — the season
  3. fall — to drop
  4. tube — the underground
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. kid — child
  8. stock — goods
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. dip — to sink
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. kid — to tease
  13. tube — a container
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. stock — shares
  17. fall — to drop
  18. mug — a cup
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. toast — bread
  21. mug — to rob
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. kid — young goat (kid gloves)

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