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: ground · saw · spring · squash · safe · pass · current · vault

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. current — electric
  3. squash — to crush
  4. saw — the tool
  5. vault — a safe
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. ground — a position
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. spring — a coil
  14. squash — the sport
  15. spring — of water
  16. current — happening now
  17. spring — the season
  18. saw — the tool
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. current — of water
  21. ground — crushed
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. ground — the earth
  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