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: safe · perch · bat · nail · suit · lie · leaves · track

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bat — in an idiom
  4. suit — clothes
  5. track — to keep track
  6. track — a path
  7. track — a song
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. suit — to fit
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. bat — the animal
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. suit — in cards
  22. lie — to recline
  23. perch — the fish
  24. nail — for a hammer

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