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: calf · coach · pop · foot · leaves · season · fine · face

  1. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. face — to confront
  3. season — in sport
  4. pop — to visit
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. season — of the year
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. pop — soda
  13. pop — music
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. fine — high quality
  20. face — part of the head
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. foot — a measure
  24. fine — all right

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