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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. sharp — clever
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. ball — a great time
  7. present — the time now
  8. can — a tin
  9. present — a gift
  10. content — the amount
  11. prune — to trim
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. perch — the fish
  14. can — a tin
  15. prune — to trim
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. present — there
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. ball — a dance
  23. content — happy
  24. sharp — with an edge

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