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: arm · date · jam · safe · kick · deal · press · lie

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  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. date — on the calendar
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. kick — in football
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. lie — to recline
  10. deal — to handle
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. press — a publisher
  16. press — newspapers
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. date — the fruit
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. press — to push
  23. jam — in traffic
  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