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 ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. object — a thing
  3. swing — in golf
  4. object — an aim
  5. perch — the fish
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. bulb — for light
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. squash — the sport
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. swing — to play on
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bulb — for light
  22. squash — to crush
  23. object — to protest
  24. swing — music

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