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: bore · calf · temple · firm · land · game · rock · bound

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. bore — to drill
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. bound — certain
  6. land — a country
  7. firm — a company
  8. game — wild animals
  9. land — ground
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. land — to come down
  12. rock — music
  13. bore — to tire
  14. firm — steady
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. bound — tied together
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. bound — obliged
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. game — a match
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. firm — decided

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