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 · jam · present · stand · fan · hide · branch · staff

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. present — the time now
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. staff — employees
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. present — there
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. stand — to bear
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. branch — a division
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. staff — employees
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. present — a gift
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. stand — on your feet

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