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: net · ball · calf · tube · spell · saw · ruler · rock

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. ball — a dance
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. rock — a stone
  5. net — in sport
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. net — after costs
  8. spell — magic
  9. saw — the tool
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. spell — a short time
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. ball — a great time
  14. net — for catching
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. tube — a container
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. tube — the underground
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. rock — music
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. spell — letters

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