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: calf · shower · bear · season · bound · staff · lie · net

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. bear — the animal
  3. shower — to wash
  4. net — for catching
  5. net — in sport
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. net — after costs
  10. season — in sport
  11. shower — rain
  12. staff — employees
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. season — of the year
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. lie — to recline
  17. staff — a stick
  18. bear — the animal
  19. bound — certain
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bound — tied together
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. staff — employees

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