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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. swing — music
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. press — to push
  5. spell — letters
  6. press — a publisher
  7. swing — to play on
  8. kick — in football
  9. can — to be able to
  10. swing — in golf
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. can — a tin
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. shower — rain
  15. can — a tin
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. spell — a short time
  18. shower — to wash
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. spell — magic
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. press — newspapers
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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