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: pass · mine · date · bear · bank · hand · calf · foot

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. hand — in cards
  3. bank — for money
  4. date — the fruit
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. bear — the animal
  9. pass — a permit
  10. hand — help
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. bank — for money
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. bank — of a river
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. mine — for digging
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. foot — a measure
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. date — on the calendar

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