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: firm · calf · foot · rock · season · snap · pitch · hide

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. firm — a company
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. pitch — completely
  6. snap — to click
  7. rock — music
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. rock — a stone
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. season — of the year
  14. season — in sport
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. firm — decided
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. firm — steady
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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