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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  9. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. stand — to bear
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. press — newspapers
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. row — to paddle
  7. press — a publisher
  8. kid — to tease
  9. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  10. charge — in control
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. row — a line
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. perch — the fish
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. kid — child
  18. press — to push
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. charge — a price
  24. mouse — the animal

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