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: face · wound · wake · calf · march · bulb · charge · toast

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. bulb — for light
  3. face — to confront
  4. wake — a trail
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. march — the month
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. bulb — for light
  11. wound — an injury
  12. toast — bread
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. face — to point toward
  15. march — the month
  16. charge — in control
  17. charge — electricity
  18. face — part of the head
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. march — music
  22. charge — a price
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. wound — an injury

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