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: arm · deal · key · perch · safe · pass · club · cue

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. cue — for pool
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. club — for golf
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. key — in music
  10. key — for a lock
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. cue — a hint
  13. key — the most important part
  14. deal — to handle
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. cue — a signal
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. club — for dancing
  21. pass — a permit
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. perch — the fish
  24. club — a group

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