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: spell · fork · squash · cabinet · pit · calf · deal · mark

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. mark — a grade
  7. spell — magic
  8. mark — a trace
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. fork — in a road
  12. squash — to crush
  13. spell — letters
  14. spell — a short time
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. pit — a hole
  19. squash — the sport
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. pit — in a race
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. squash — the vegetable

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