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: mark · foot · wound · suit · current · mine · temple · calf

  1. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. current — of water
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. current — happening now
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. suit — in cards
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. current — electric
  12. wound — an injury
  13. suit — clothes
  14. mark — a grade
  15. mine — for digging
  16. suit — to fit
  17. wound — an injury
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. mark — a trace
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. foot — a measure
  24. calf — of the leg

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