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: rash · track · jam · fork · arm · safe · cell · bank

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  6. He was locked up in a ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. bank — of a river
  3. fork — in a road
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. fork — a garden tool
  6. cell — in a prison
  7. rash — hasty
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. cell — a phone
  10. cell — in biology
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. track — to keep track
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. track — a song
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. rash — a series
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. track — a path
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. bank — for money
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. bank — for money

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