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: staff · date · calf · rush · nail · mug · dip · wake

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. mug — a face
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. staff — employees
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. staff — a stick
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. date — the fruit
  11. mug — to rob
  12. rush — hurry
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. staff — employees
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. dip — to sink
  18. mug — a cup
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. wake — a trail
  24. dip — to dunk

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