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 giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. bank — of a river
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. bound — obliged
  6. track — a path
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. bank — for money
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bound — certain
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. ball — a dance
  13. fall — to drop
  14. fall — to drop
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. bound — tied together
  18. fall — the season
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. bank — for money
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. track — to keep track
  23. track — a song
  24. ball — a great time

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