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: bulb · calf · rock · mouse · saw · bore · deal · rush

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. saw — the tool
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. bore — to tire
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. bulb — for light
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. bore — to drill
  14. bulb — for light
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. rock — music
  18. deal — to handle
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. saw — the tool
  24. rock — a stone

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