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: current · ruler · saw · object · row · hand · calf · toast

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. hand — in cards
  3. current — happening now
  4. object — an aim
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. row — a line
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. object — a thing
  12. saw — the tool
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. row — to paddle
  15. current — electric
  16. toast — bread
  17. current — of water
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. hand — help
  20. object — to protest
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. hand — part of the body

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