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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. lie — to recline
  8. scale — size or range
  9. current — electric
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. current — of water
  12. hand — in cards
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. current — happening now
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. ball — a great time
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. ball — a dance
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. hand — help

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