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: tube · bank · nail · mark · stem · ball · squash · calf

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. mark — a grade
  6. ball — a great time
  7. squash — the sport
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bank — of a river
  11. tube — a container
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. tube — the underground
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. squash — to crush
  17. ball — a dance
  18. bank — for money
  19. stem — to come from
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. bank — for money
  24. mark — a trace

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