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: stock · kid · calf · jam · safe · bound · mug · perch

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. perch — the fish
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. stock — shares
  5. bound — obliged
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. mug — a face
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. kid — child
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. mug — a cup
  15. mug — to rob
  16. bound — tied together
  17. bound — certain
  18. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. stock — goods
  24. kid — to tease

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