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 · key · ball · dip · can · content · leaves · tube

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. key — for a lock
  4. tube — a container
  5. can — a tin
  6. content — happy
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. dip — to sink
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. content — the amount
  12. can — a tin
  13. key — in music
  14. ball — a great time
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. ball — a dance
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. tube — the underground
  21. can — to be able to
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. key — the most important part
  24. calf — a young animal

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