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 116 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 farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. cue — for pool
  4. cue — a signal
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. can — a tin
  9. wax — to grow
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. can — a tin
  13. straw — dry grass
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. season — in sport
  18. can — to be able to
  19. cue — a hint
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. season — of the year
  24. calf — a young animal

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