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 116 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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. suit — in cards
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. suit — to fit
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. bound — obliged
  10. face — part of the head
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. suit — clothes
  14. face — to point toward
  15. lean — thin
  16. lean — to bend
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bound — certain
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. face — to confront
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. hide — animal skin

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