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 120 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: pitcher · game · row · safe · hide · calf · fine · vault

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. vault — a safe
  4. game — a match
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. fine — high quality
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. row — to paddle
  9. fine — all right
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. row — a line
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. game — wild animals
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. pitcher — a jug

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