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: fine · calf · mark · racket · craft · leaves · rest · ball

  1. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  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. rest — a break
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. fine — high quality
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. mark — a grade
  6. ball — a great time
  7. rest — what's left
  8. ball — a dance
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. rest — what's left
  14. fine — all right
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. mark — a trace
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. craft — a skill
  23. leaves — to go away
  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