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 · cabinet · march · mouse · patient · firm · perch · object

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  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. firm — decided
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. perch — the fish
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. object — to protest
  7. march — the month
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. firm — a company
  10. march — the month
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. march — music
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. object — an aim
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. firm — steady
  22. object — a thing
  23. mouse — the animal
  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