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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. perch — the fish
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. track — a path
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. bound — obliged
  8. fall — the season
  9. track — a song
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. fall — to drop
  13. spell — magic
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. bulb — for light
  16. track — to keep track
  17. spell — letters
  18. sharp — clever
  19. fall — to drop
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. bound — certain
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bound — tied together

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