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: club · suit · fine · trunk · safe · staff · sharp · coach

  1. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for golf
  2. fine — all right
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. fine — high quality
  6. suit — in cards
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. suit — to fit
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. club — for dancing
  15. club — a group
  16. staff — employees
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. sharp — clever
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. staff — a stick
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. staff — employees
  24. suit — clothes

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