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 surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. roll — a cake
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. roll — a list
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. key — for a lock
  14. bulb — for light
  15. key — the most important part
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. pound — for dogs
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. pound — a weight
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. key — in music
  22. bulb — for light
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. leaves — lets stay

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