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: hide · chip · bank · arm · temple · squash · leaves · calf

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. chip — to eat
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. squash — to crush
  12. squash — the sport
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. bank — for money
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. chip — for betting
  23. bank — of a river
  24. bank — for money

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