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: cabinet · last · trunk · vault · prune · net · game · safe

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. prune — to trim
  3. net — for catching
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. vault — a safe
  8. prune — to trim
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. net — in sport
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. last — finally
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. last — final
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. game — wild animals
  17. net — after costs
  18. last — to go on
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. game — a match
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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