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 King held a masked ________________.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. chip — for betting
  5. bank — for money
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. wax — to grow
  9. stand — to bear
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. chip — to eat
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. bank — for money
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. perch — the fish
  19. bank — of a river
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. ball — a great time

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