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: saw · bank · date · rush · wave · drill · arm · calf

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. saw — the tool
  3. date — the fruit
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. bank — for money
  13. drill — the tool
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. drill — army training
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. saw — the tool
  18. bank — of a river
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. bank — for money
  21. rush — hurry
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. calf — a young animal

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