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: dip · calf · mark · mate · mine · vault · squash · pass

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. mark — a trace
  3. squash — the sport
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. pass — a permit
  7. squash — to crush
  8. dip — to sink
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. mate — a friend
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. mate — to breed
  20. mine — for digging
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. vault — a safe
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. mark — a grade

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