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: patient · pass · dip · rush · jam · foot · safe · chest

  1. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — a box
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. rush — hurry
  12. pass — a permit
  13. chest — of your body
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. dip — to sink
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. chest — of your body
  22. foot — a measure
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rush — to hurry

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