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 120 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: board · ground · calf · mouse · cap · rest · stock · arm

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. stock — goods
  7. cap — a hat
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. board — to get on
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. ground — a position
  14. rest — what's left
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. rest — a break
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. cap — of ice
  19. rest — what's left
  20. ground — crushed
  21. board — a committee
  22. stock — shares
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. cap — a lid

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