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: ball · roll · spell · calf · craft · lie · stock · date

  1. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. ball — a great time
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. spell — letters
  8. spell — a short time
  9. roll — a cake
  10. craft — a skill
  11. stock — shares
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. stock — goods
  14. spell — magic
  15. date — the fruit
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. ball — a dance
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. lie — to recline
  22. roll — a list
  23. craft — boats
  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