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 · march · file · jam · staff · calf · nail · bank

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bank — of a river
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. bank — for money
  6. bulb — for light
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. file — a tool
  9. march — the month
  10. march — the month
  11. bank — for money
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. staff — a stick
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. file — a line of people
  17. staff — employees
  18. march — music
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. file — a document
  22. staff — employees
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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