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: calf · stand · bay · bear · track · bank · arm · bass

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. stand — to bear
  4. track — a path
  5. bank — for money
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. track — a song
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. bass — low music
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. bass — the fish
  16. bank — for money
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. track — to keep track
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. bear — the animal
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. bear — the 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