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: ball · file · safe · squash · vault · bass · snap · rock

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bass — the fish
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. rock — a stone
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. vault — a safe
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. snap — to click
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. ball — a great time
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. squash — to crush
  15. squash — the sport
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. file — a tool
  18. file — a line of people
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. ball — a dance
  22. rock — music
  23. bass — low music
  24. file — a document

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