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: mine · plane · stick · scale · spell · mouse · jam · safe

  1. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. spell — letters
  5. scale — in music
  6. spell — a short time
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. mine — for digging
  9. plane — a tool
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. spell — magic
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. scale — size or range
  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