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: bowl · safe · hide · object · bass · cue · row · fan

  1. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. cue — a hint
  3. bass — the fish
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. cue — for pool
  7. bass — low music
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. row — to paddle
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. row — a line
  18. cue — a signal
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. object — to protest
  22. object — an aim
  23. object — a thing
  24. safe — a strongbox

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