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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: calf · key · foot · stand · race · coach · saw · can

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  21. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. saw — the tool
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. race — humankind
  6. can — to be able to
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. key — the most important part
  9. key — for a lock
  10. foot — a measure
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. saw — the tool
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. stand — to bear
  17. can — a tin
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. race — the arms race
  21. race — a contest
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. key — in music
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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