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: firm · mug · safe · stock · kid · hand · calf · nail

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. firm — decided
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. firm — a company
  6. hand — in cards
  7. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. kid — to tease
  10. mug — a cup
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. firm — steady
  16. mug — to rob
  17. stock — goods
  18. kid — child
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. hand — help
  24. mug — a face

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