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: racket · patient · arm · bear · net · dip · rock · kick

  1. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. rock — a stone
  3. bear — the animal
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. net — after costs
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. net — for catching
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. kick — in football
  10. dip — to sink
  11. rock — music
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. net — in sport
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. bear — the animal
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. patient — a sick person

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