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: arm · bear · present · bound · ground · kick · calf · pitcher

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. present — there
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bound — tied together
  6. ground — the earth
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. present — the time now
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. kick — in football
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. bear — the animal
  14. ground — a position
  15. present — a gift
  16. bound — certain
  17. bound — obliged
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. ground — crushed
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. bear — the 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