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. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — a break
  2. spring — of water
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. scale — size or range
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. rest — what's left
  7. spring — a coil
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. can — a tin
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. season — of the year
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. can — to be able to
  15. rest — what's left
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. spring — the season
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. can — a tin
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. scale — in music
  24. season — in sport

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