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 giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. bound — certain
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. key — in music
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. bound — obliged
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. board — to get on
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. mark — a grade
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. row — a line
  16. key — for a lock
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. mark — a trace
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. bound — tied together
  21. key — the most important part
  22. board — a committee
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. row — to paddle

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