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: bound · pass · rock · spell · spring · temple · calf · mine

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. bound — certain
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. spring — the season
  7. rock — a stone
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. mine — for digging
  10. spell — a short time
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bound — tied together
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. rock — music
  16. bound — obliged
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. spell — magic
  19. spring — of water
  20. pass — a permit
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. spring — a coil
  23. spell — letters
  24. pass — to spend time

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