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: calf · track · pitcher · nail · board · bay · kick · cue

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. board — to get on
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. cue — for pool
  7. track — a path
  8. track — a song
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. board — a committee
  11. kick — a thrill
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. track — to keep track
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. cue — a signal
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. kick — in football
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. cue — a hint
  24. calf — of the leg

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