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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: mouse · rock · perch · plane · ball · spell · mark · saw

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. ball — a great time
  4. mark — a grade
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. plane — a tool
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. rock — music
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. perch — the fish
  12. mark — a trace
  13. spell — letters
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. spell — a short time
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. saw — the tool
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. spell — magic
  21. ball — a dance
  22. rock — a stone
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. saw — the tool

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