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: foot · mate · deal · season · firm · suit · rush · calf

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. suit — to fit
  6. mate — to breed
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. firm — decided
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. season — in sport
  11. mate — a partner
  12. suit — clothes
  13. deal — to handle
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. firm — a company
  17. season — of the year
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. foot — a measure
  20. firm — steady
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. mate — a friend
  23. rush — hurry
  24. suit — in cards

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