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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. rock — music
  5. track — to keep track
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. object — an aim
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. track — a path
  13. track — a song
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. rock — a stone
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. object — a thing
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — a tin
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. object — to protest

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