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: drill · chair · calf · pass · pop · cabinet · ball · lie

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. chair — a professorship
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. pop — soda
  6. ball — a great time
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. drill — a practice
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. drill — army training
  12. pass — a permit
  13. drill — the tool
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. pop — to visit
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. pop — music
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. ball — a dance
  23. lie — to recline
  24. chair — a leader

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