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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. bore — to drill
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. face — part of the head
  9. foot — a measure
  10. face — to confront
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. current — of water
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. face — to point toward
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. sharp — clever
  19. prune — to trim
  20. current — happening now
  21. bore — to tire
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. prune — to trim
  24. current — electric

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