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: bay · arm · pop · deal · safe · fine · cap · key

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. deal — to handle
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. key — the most important part
  6. fine — high quality
  7. pop — soda
  8. cap — a hat
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. fine — all right
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. cap — a lid
  18. key — for a lock
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. pop — to visit
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. pop — music
  23. cap — of ice
  24. key — in music

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