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. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. perch — the fish
  3. snap — to click
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. bulb — for light
  7. stand — to bear
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. vault — a safe
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. rush — hurry
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. bulb — for light
  21. wake — a trail
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. wake — before a funeral

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