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: charge · safe · file · spring · rock · mark · trunk · lie

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. charge — in control
  4. spring — a coil
  5. rock — music
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. spring — of water
  10. file — a tool
  11. charge — electricity
  12. lie — to recline
  13. file — a line of people
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. file — a document
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. spring — the season
  20. mark — a grade
  21. charge — a price
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. mark — a trace
  24. safe — a strongbox

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