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: bound · land · mate · safe · mug · face · stand · charge

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. mug — to rob
  4. face — to point toward
  5. charge — electricity
  6. mug — a cup
  7. stand — to bear
  8. land — a country
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. face — to confront
  12. bound — tied together
  13. mug — a face
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. mate — a partner
  16. charge — in control
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. bound — certain
  19. bound — obliged
  20. land — ground
  21. mate — a friend
  22. land — to come down
  23. face — part of the head
  24. mate — to breed

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