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. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. club — for dancing
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. roll — a cake
  11. club — a group
  12. club — for golf
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. game — a match
  15. game — wild animals
  16. season — in sport
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. roll — a list
  20. stem — to come from
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. season — of the year
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. safe — out of danger

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