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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. file — a tool
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. mark — a trace
  8. file — a document
  9. ball — a dance
  10. press — newspapers
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. ball — a great time
  13. rest — what's left
  14. file — a line of people
  15. rest — what's left
  16. press — to push
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. rest — a break
  22. press — a publisher
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. hide — to keep secret

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