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. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. key — the most important part
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. key — for a lock
  9. straw — dry grass
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. hand — in cards
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. key — in music
  20. hand — help
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. arm — part of the body

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