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: saw · content · patient · fall · can · rock · safe · prune

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. saw — the tool
  3. content — the amount
  4. can — a tin
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. can — to be able to
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. fall — to drop
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. content — happy
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. fall — to drop
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. prune — to trim
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. rock — a stone
  19. saw — the tool
  20. can — a tin
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. prune — to trim
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. rock — music

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