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: bat · calf · bulb · hand · ruler · bear · drill · stock

  1. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. bulb — for light
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. drill — the tool
  8. stock — shares
  9. bear — the animal
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. bat — the animal
  12. drill — a practice
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. stock — goods
  16. hand — help
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. bat — for baseball
  19. drill — army training
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. bear — the animal
  22. hand — in cards
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. ruler — a monarch

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