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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. saw — the tool
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. hand — help
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. season — of the year
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. date — the fruit
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. saw — the tool
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. stand — to bear
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. season — in sport
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. hand — in cards

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