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 120 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: calf · deal · fork · cabinet · cell · ball · wave · degree

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. He was locked up in a ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  20. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. cell — a phone
  5. ball — a dance
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cell — in a prison
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. deal — to handle
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. degree — from a university
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. degree — temperature
  20. degree — an amount
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. ball — a great time
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. cell — in biology

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