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: tube · safe · last · field · leaves · patient · charge · rest

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. field — a subject
  4. field — for sport
  5. rest — a break
  6. last — finally
  7. tube — the underground
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. last — to go on
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. charge — a price
  13. rest — what's left
  14. charge — electricity
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. field — farmland
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. last — final
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. tube — a container
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. charge — in control
  24. safe — out of danger

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