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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. cue — for pool
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. cue — a signal
  8. game — wild animals
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. rash — hasty
  11. rock — a stone
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. cue — a hint
  15. rock — music
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. game — a match
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. rash — a series
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. content — the amount
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. content — happy

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