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 120 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: snap · calf · ruler · rock · bat · cabinet · land · fork

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  20. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. land — a country
  3. rock — music
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. land — ground
  16. land — to come down
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. rock — a stone
  19. bat — the animal
  20. bat — in an idiom
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. snap — to click

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