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. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. David sat on the ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. branch — a division
  3. toast — bread
  4. can — a tin
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. can — to be able to
  8. bound — tied together
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. swing — music
  12. bound — obliged
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. bound — certain
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. swing — to play on
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. swing — in golf
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. can — a tin
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. toast — the most admired

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