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 coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  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. swing — in golf
  2. march — the month
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. present — there
  5. firm — decided
  6. swing — to play on
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. march — music
  9. saw — the tool
  10. hand — in cards
  11. saw — the tool
  12. present — a gift
  13. current — electric
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. firm — a company
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. march — the month
  18. firm — steady
  19. hand — help
  20. present — the time now
  21. swing — music
  22. current — happening now
  23. current — of water
  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