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: safe · mouse · ball · deal · coach · snap · court · rush

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. rush — hurry
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. ball — a great time
  5. court — for sport
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. court — of a king
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. ball — a dance
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. deal — to handle
  20. court — of law
  21. snap — to click
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. coach — a trainer

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