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: can · swing · tube · safe · staff · nail · season · bear

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. staff — employees
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. swing — music
  6. swing — to play on
  7. swing — in golf
  8. season — in sport
  9. tube — the underground
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. can — a tin
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. can — a tin
  15. bear — the animal
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. tube — a container
  18. staff — a stick
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. bear — the animal
  21. can — to be able to
  22. season — of the year
  23. staff — employees
  24. bear — to put up with

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