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 116 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 light ________________ burned out.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. scale — in music
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. current — electric
  7. scale — size or range
  8. perch — the fish
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. fine — high quality
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. current — of water
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. fine — all right
  22. bulb — for light
  23. current — happening now
  24. bulb — of a plant

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