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: band · bulb · mate · key · rock · shower · stand · calf

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. mate — a friend
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. rock — music
  7. mate — to breed
  8. bulb — for light
  9. rock — a stone
  10. key — for a lock
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. stand — to bear
  13. shower — to wash
  14. band — a music group
  15. band — a ring
  16. band — a rubber band
  17. mate — a partner
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. key — in music
  21. bulb — for light
  22. shower — rain
  23. key — the most important part
  24. bulb — of a plant

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