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: fan · row · pound · calf · can · suit · pitcher · squash

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. row — a line
  5. can — a tin
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. can — a tin
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. suit — to fit
  12. pound — to hit hard
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. row — to paddle
  15. suit — in cards
  16. can — to be able to
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. squash — to crush
  21. squash — the sport
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. suit — clothes
  24. calf — a young animal

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