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: arm · stock · rush · racket · tube · saw · safe · coach

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. rush — hurry
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. saw — the tool
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. saw — the tool
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. tube — a container
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. tube — the underground
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. stock — goods
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. stock — shares
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rush — to hurry

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