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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. straw — a straw man
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. sharp — clever
  6. mark — a trace
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. object — an aim
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. lie — to recline
  13. object — to protest
  14. season — in sport
  15. season — of the year
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. object — a thing
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. mark — a grade
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. straw — dry grass

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