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: suit · land · calf · can · date · charge · cap · bear

  1. When are we going to ________________?
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. suit — clothes
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. bear — the animal
  5. can — a tin
  6. land — a country
  7. can — to be able to
  8. land — ground
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. date — the fruit
  12. suit — in cards
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. cap — a hat
  15. cap — of ice
  16. bear — the animal
  17. can — a tin
  18. cap — a lid
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. charge — a price
  22. charge — electricity
  23. suit — to fit
  24. charge — in control

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