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 116 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: lie · snap · perch · wave · mark · ball · mug · calf

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  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. lie — an untruth
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. mark — a grade
  4. ball — a great time
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. mug — a cup
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. snap — to click
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. mug — to rob
  12. mark — a trace
  13. mug — a face
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. ball — a dance
  16. perch — the fish
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. lie — to recline
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  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