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: last · safe · stand · nail · sharp · trunk · deal · rush

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. last — to go on
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. last — final
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. last — finally
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. sharp — clever
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. stand — to bear
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. rush — hurry
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. deal — to handle
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. sharp — exactly

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