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: bat · wave · perch · charge · bulb · pass · date · toast

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. bat — the animal
  4. bulb — for light
  5. perch — the fish
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. charge — electricity
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. bulb — for light
  15. charge — in control
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. bat — in an idiom
  18. charge — a price
  19. bat — for baseball
  20. date — the fruit
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. toast — bread
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. wave — of the sea

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