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 116 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 · nail · stock · net · tube · safe · fine · fan

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  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. safe — out of danger
  2. net — in sport
  3. tube — the underground
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. net — for catching
  8. tube — a container
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. fine — high quality
  11. net — after costs
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. stock — goods
  15. mug — to rob
  16. mug — a face
  17. stock — shares
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. mug — a cup
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. fine — all right
  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