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: wave · spell · mug · calf · fall · bore · present · leaves

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. mug — a face
  5. bore — to tire
  6. spell — letters
  7. bore — to drill
  8. present — a gift
  9. spell — a short time
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. fall — to drop
  12. fall — the season
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. mug — a cup
  17. fall — to drop
  18. mug — to rob
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. spell — magic
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. present — there
  23. present — the time now
  24. wave — with your hand

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