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: pitcher · rush · toast · perch · safe · bay · calf · wake

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  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. pitcher — in baseball
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. toast — bread
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. wake — a trail
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. perch — the fish
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. rush — hurry
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. calf — of the leg
  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