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: calf · plane · jam · stand · rush · bulb · cap · charge

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  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. calf — a young animal
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. cap — of ice
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. bulb — for light
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. charge — electricity
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. cap — a lid
  13. stand — to bear
  14. bulb — for light
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. rush — hurry
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. plane — a tool
  20. charge — a price
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. charge — in control
  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