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: bulb · calf · bay · row · chip · squash · mouse · mine

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. squash — to crush
  10. mine — for digging
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. row — to paddle
  13. bulb — for light
  14. chip — to eat
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. squash — the sport
  18. chip — for betting
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. bulb — for light
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. row — a line

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