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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. game — wild animals
  3. current — of water
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. current — happening now
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. pitch — completely
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. game — a match
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. current — electric
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. temple — side of the head

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