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: straw · leaves · key · can · calf · march · object · season

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. object — a thing
  3. key — for a lock
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. straw — to clutch at straws
  6. can — a tin
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. march — the month
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. key — in music
  12. key — the most important part
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. can — to be able to
  15. march — the month
  16. object — to protest
  17. season — in sport
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. can — a tin
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. march — music
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. object — an aim
  24. straw — dry grass

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