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. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. spell — magic
  3. suit — clothes
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. rock — music
  7. degree — from a university
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. suit — to fit
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. mark — a trace
  12. degree — an amount
  13. tube — the underground
  14. wound — an injury
  15. degree — temperature
  16. rock — a stone
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. suit — in cards
  19. spell — letters
  20. spell — a short time
  21. mark — a grade
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. wound — an injury
  24. tube — a container

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