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: craft · track · cap · pop · calf · root · coach · face

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. track — a path
  3. craft — a skill
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. pop — to visit
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. face — to point toward
  10. cap — a lid
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. root — of a word
  13. root — of a plant
  14. face — to confront
  15. track — to keep track
  16. track — a song
  17. pop — soda
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. root — the cause
  20. cap — of ice
  21. face — part of the head
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. cap — a hat
  24. craft — boats

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