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 · leaves · pass · cue · kick · rush · ball · branch

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. cue — for pool
  3. cue — a signal
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. cue — a hint
  6. ball — a dance
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. kick — in football
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. rush — hurry
  19. ball — a great time
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. branch — a division
  23. pass — a permit
  24. pass — to succeed

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