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 120 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: scale · plane · cap · calf · fork · foot · coach · cabinet

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  23. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. cap — of ice
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. plane — a tool
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. cap — a hat
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. foot — a measure
  17. scale — in music
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. cap — a lid
  21. scale — size or range
  22. fork — a garden tool
  23. fork — in a road
  24. coach — a trainer

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