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 am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. board — to get on
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. face — to confront
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. bank — of a river
  8. perch — the fish
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. face — to point toward
  11. board — a committee
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. rock — music
  16. bank — for money
  17. bank — for money
  18. rock — a stone
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. face — part of the head

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