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. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. charge — in control
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. prune — to trim
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. pass — a permit
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. charge — electricity
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. prune — to trim
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. perch — the fish
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. date — the fruit
  21. charge — a price
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. date — on the calendar

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