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 116 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: sharp · wake · mark · current · calf · fall · deal · bowl

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. current — of water
  4. wake — a trail
  5. fall — to drop
  6. mark — a grade
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. sharp — clever
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. current — electric
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. deal — to handle
  13. current — happening now
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. fall — the season
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. fall — to drop

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