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 120 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: trunk · pass · safe · face · rash · current · bark · arm

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. pass — a permit
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. face — to point toward
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. rash — a series
  13. face — part of the head
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. current — electric
  16. rash — hasty
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. bark — to shout
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. current — happening now
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. face — to confront
  24. safe — out of danger

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