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: deal · wound · bass · chair · jam · foot · bore · safe

  1. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — to sit on
  2. wound — an injury
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. bass — low music
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. chair — a leader
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. deal — to handle
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. foot — a measure
  15. bore — to tire
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. wound — an injury
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. bore — to drill
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. bass — the fish
  24. chair — a professorship

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