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: racket · fan · bound · lie · present · calf · firm · current

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. current — happening now
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. lie — to recline
  8. current — of water
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. bound — obliged
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. firm — a company
  13. bound — tied together
  14. present — a gift
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. current — electric
  17. present — there
  18. present — the time now
  19. bound — certain
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. firm — steady
  24. calf — a young animal

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