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: can · arm · rash · safe · bore · drill · kid · mate

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. rash — a series
  3. drill — a practice
  4. mate — a friend
  5. drill — the tool
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. kid — to tease
  8. rash — hasty
  9. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. bore — to drill
  12. can — a tin
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. mate — to breed
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. bore — to tire
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. can — to be able to
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. drill — army training
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. kid — child
  24. can — a tin

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