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: straw · present · safe · leaves · foot · net · fine · kick

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  7. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  19. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. present — the time now
  3. net — in sport
  4. foot — a measure
  5. fine — high quality
  6. kick — a thrill
  7. kick — in football
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. fine — all right
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. present — there
  13. net — for catching
  14. net — after costs
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. straw — dry grass
  19. kick — with a leg
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. straw — a straw man
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. present — a gift
  24. foot — the bottom

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