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: firm · sharp · calf · chip · bore · tube · rock · mate

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  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. firm — decided
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. tube — a container
  4. chip — to eat
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. bore — to tire
  8. sharp — clever
  9. firm — a company
  10. mate — a partner
  11. chip — for betting
  12. firm — steady
  13. bore — to drill
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. tube — the underground
  17. mate — to breed
  18. rock — music
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. mate — a friend
  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