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: current · hide · kid · mouse · staff · season · calf · foot

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. staff — a stick
  3. season — of the year
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. foot — a measure
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. season — in sport
  9. kid — to tease
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  13. staff — employees
  14. current — happening now
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. current — electric
  20. current — of water
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. staff — employees
  23. kid — child
  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