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. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. mark — a trace
  3. can — to be able to
  4. rest — what's left
  5. can — a tin
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. spring — the season
  8. game — a match
  9. mark — a grade
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. bulb — for light
  14. spring — a coil
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. can — a tin
  18. game — wild animals
  19. rest — what's left
  20. perch — the fish
  21. bulb — for light
  22. rest — a break
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. spring — of water

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