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 · sharp · root · hand · jam · rush · lie · deal

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. deal — to handle
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. root — of a word
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. sharp — clever
  9. root — of a plant
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. rush — hurry
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. hand — in cards
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. root — the cause
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. hand — help
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. deal — a big deal

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