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: scale · stand · perch · trunk · game · plane · patient · bass

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. game — a match
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. stand — to bear
  5. scale — size or range
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. bass — the fish
  10. perch — the fish
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. plane — a tool
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. scale — in music
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. game — wild animals
  22. bass — low music
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. perch — for a bird

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