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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. land — to come down
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. rest — what's left
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. bank — for money
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. suit — in cards
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. land — ground
  11. bank — for money
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. rest — what's left
  14. rest — a break
  15. bank — of a river
  16. land — a country
  17. rush — hurry
  18. craft — a skill
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. suit — clothes
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. craft — boats

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