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'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. drill — a practice
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. cue — for pool
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. hand — help
  11. perch — the fish
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. cue — a signal
  15. hand — in cards
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. drill — the tool
  18. roll — a cake
  19. drill — army training
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. roll — a list

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