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: rock · cabinet · lash · game · jam · face · date · calf

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. game — wild animals
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. game — a match
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. date — the fruit
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. face — to confront
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. face — part of the head
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. rock — music
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. face — to point toward
  24. rock — a stone

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