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: calf · cabinet · pitch · roll · chip · trunk · craft · rock

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. rock — a stone
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. chip — to eat
  14. craft — a skill
  15. rock — music
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. roll — a list
  18. chip — for betting
  19. craft — boats
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. pitch — completely
  23. roll — a cake
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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