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: stick · cap · calf · nail · pop · perch · pit · capital

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  23. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. cap — a lid
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. pop — music
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. capital — a big letter
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. pop — to visit
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. cap — of ice
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. pit — a hole
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. perch — the fish
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. pop — soda
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. pit — in a race
  22. capital — a city
  23. capital — money
  24. cap — a hat

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