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. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. can — a tin
  3. lean — to bend
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. snap — to click
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. suit — in cards
  11. suit — clothes
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. suit — to fit
  14. can — a tin
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. tube — the underground
  17. spell — letters
  18. can — to be able to
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. spell — magic
  21. lie — to recline
  22. spell — a short time
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. lean — thin

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