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: key · nail · prune · toast · calf · chip · hide · wake

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. prune — to trim
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. prune — to trim
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. chip — to eat
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. key — in music
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. chip — for betting
  20. toast — bread
  21. key — the most important part
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. key — for a lock

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