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

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. wound — an injury
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bulb — for light
  6. foot — a measure
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. bound — certain
  9. wound — an injury
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. perch — the fish
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. mug — to rob
  15. rock — a stone
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. mug — a cup
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. bulb — for light
  20. mug — a face
  21. stand — to bear
  22. rock — music
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. perch — for a bird

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