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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cue — a hint
  4. bark — to shout
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. mark — a grade
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. pit — in a race
  12. foot — a measure
  13. pit — a hole
  14. cue — for pool
  15. saw — the tool
  16. cue — a signal
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. bark — of a tree
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. mark — a trace
  23. saw — the tool
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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