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: mug · safe · tube · patient · bore · mate · key · rash

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  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. safe — out of danger
  2. mate — a partner
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. tube — the underground
  5. rash — hasty
  6. bore — to tire
  7. key — in music
  8. mate — a friend
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. mug — a face
  11. mate — to breed
  12. tube — a container
  13. mug — to rob
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. key — the most important part
  16. mug — a cup
  17. key — for a lock
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. rash — a series
  22. bore — to drill
  23. patient — a sick person
  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