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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. squash — the sport
  5. stem — to come from
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. squash — to crush
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. date — the fruit
  13. spell — magic
  14. ball — a great time
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. spell — letters
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. spell — a short time
  20. ball — a dance
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. pass — a permit
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. date — on the calendar

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