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 120 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 did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. fine — high quality
  3. pitch — completely
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. stem — to come from
  8. lie — to recline
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. rush — hurry
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. key — the most important part
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. fine — all right
  21. key — for a lock
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. key — in 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