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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The ball is in your ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. court — of law
  3. saw — the tool
  4. perch — the fish
  5. court — of a king
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. court — for sport
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. toast — bread
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. saw — the tool
  14. staff — employees
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. cap — of ice
  17. staff — a stick
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. staff — employees
  23. cap — a lid
  24. fan — a supporter

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