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. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. field — farmland
  5. bank — of a river
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. field — for sport
  10. field — a subject
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. bank — for money
  13. board — to get on
  14. bank — for money
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. toast — bread
  17. rock — a stone
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. bear — the animal
  22. board — a committee
  23. bear — the animal
  24. rock — music

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