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: mouse · hand · charge · pass · row · safe · chip · calf

  1. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a quarrel
  2. pass — a permit
  3. chip — to eat
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. charge — electricity
  7. hand — in cards
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. row — to paddle
  11. chip — for betting
  12. charge — a price
  13. row — a line
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. hand — help
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. charge — in control

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