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 elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. can — to be able to
  5. can — a tin
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. bass — low music
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. can — a tin
  18. bass — the fish
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. calf — of the leg

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