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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. pop — music
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. pop — to visit
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. mug — to rob
  10. can — a tin
  11. prune — to trim
  12. mug — a face
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. can — a tin
  15. prune — to trim
  16. staff — employees
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pop — soda
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. can — to be able to
  21. saw — the tool
  22. staff — a stick
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. staff — employees

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