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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. bank — of a river
  4. saw — the tool
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. swing — to play on
  7. perch — the fish
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. net — for catching
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. net — after costs
  14. mine — for digging
  15. board — a committee
  16. bank — for money
  17. swing — music
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. swing — in golf
  20. board — to get on
  21. net — in sport
  22. saw — the tool
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. bank — for money

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