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: toast · content · jam · calf · bat · pitcher · safe · hide

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. bat — for baseball
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. content — the amount
  6. bat — the animal
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. toast — bread
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. content — happy
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. bat — in an idiom
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. hide — to keep secret

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