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: wake · mate · face · fan · file · stand · calf · bound

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. face — to point toward
  3. bound — obliged
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. bound — certain
  7. face — part of the head
  8. file — a line of people
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. mate — a friend
  12. file — a tool
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. stand — to bear
  15. wake — a trail
  16. mate — a partner
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. face — to confront
  19. bound — tied together
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. mate — to breed
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. stand — on your feet

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