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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. face — to point toward
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. object — to protest
  5. content — the amount
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. root — of a word
  8. season — of the year
  9. perch — the fish
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. face — to confront
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. face — part of the head
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. root — of a plant
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. season — in sport
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. object — an aim
  22. root — the cause
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. content — happy

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