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 116 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 protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. At ________________, we arrived at the village.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. press — newspapers
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. press — a publisher
  5. can — to be able to
  6. last — to go on
  7. plane — a tool
  8. press — to push
  9. can — a tin
  10. bound — certain
  11. last — final
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. bass — the fish
  17. wound — an injury
  18. wound — an injury
  19. can — a tin
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bass — low music
  24. last — finally

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