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 players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. rush — hurry
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. scale — in music
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. pitch — completely
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. scale — size or range
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. rest — a break
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. net — in sport
  17. rest — what's left
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. net — for catching
  21. perch — the fish
  22. net — after costs
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. rest — what's left

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