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: rock · leaves · stand · saw · safe · calf · drill · rush

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. rush — hurry
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. saw — the tool
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. rock — music
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. saw — the tool
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. stand — to bear
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. drill — a practice
  22. rock — a stone
  23. drill — army training
  24. calf — of the leg

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