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: bank · fork · track · bound · rock · calf · drill · vault

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. bound — certain
  3. vault — a safe
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. drill — a practice
  6. bound — obliged
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. bank — for money
  9. rock — music
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. bank — of a river
  12. track — a path
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. bound — tied together
  15. track — a song
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. bank — for money
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. rock — a stone
  21. drill — the tool
  22. fork — in a road
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. track — to keep track

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