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 120 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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. key — the most important part
  5. present — a gift
  6. face — to confront
  7. spell — magic
  8. present — the time now
  9. stand — to bear
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. face — to point toward
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. mark — a trace
  15. spell — a short time
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. key — in music
  18. key — for a lock
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. spell — letters
  21. present — there
  22. face — part of the head
  23. perch — the fish
  24. mark — a grade

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