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: bound · leaves · coach · date · bulb · calf · can · patient

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. bound — certain
  7. can — a tin
  8. bulb — for light
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. bound — obliged
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. bound — tied together
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. bulb — for light
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. can — to be able to
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. date — the fruit
  24. coach — a trainer

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