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: pitch · nail · calf · dip · object · key · bound · can

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bound — certain
  5. can — to be able to
  6. key — for a lock
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. pitch — completely
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. bound — tied together
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. can — a tin
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. key — in music
  16. dip — to sink
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. object — to protest
  19. object — an aim
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. key — the most important part
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. can — a tin
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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