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: dip · jam · deal · safe · ground · saw · bark · bay

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  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. deal — to handle
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. ground — the earth
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. ground — a position
  11. saw — the tool
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. bark — to shout
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. ground — crushed
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bark — of a tree
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. dip — to sink
  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