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: vault · calf · bear · stem · mouse · board · wound · temple

  1. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. bear — the animal
  5. wound — an injury
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. bear — the animal
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. board — to get on
  17. vault — a safe
  18. board — a committee
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. wound — an injury
  21. stem — to come from
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. bear — to put up with

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