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: pit · rush · chip · suit · cabinet · arm · calf · leaves

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. pit — in a race
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. suit — in cards
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. suit — to fit
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. chip — for betting
  15. suit — clothes
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. rush — hurry
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. chip — to eat
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. pit — a hole
  24. calf — a young animal

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