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: nail · ruler · lean · mark · trunk · saw · bear · calf

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. bear — the animal
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. lean — thin
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. saw — the tool
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. mark — a grade
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. lean — to bend
  21. mark — a trace
  22. bear — the animal
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. nail — for a hammer

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