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 · prune · file · face · calf · drill · charge · deal

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. prune — to trim
  3. file — a line of people
  4. face — to point toward
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. charge — electricity
  8. drill — the tool
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. drill — a practice
  11. face — part of the head
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. file — a tool
  14. deal — to handle
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. prune — to trim
  17. drill — army training
  18. scale — in music
  19. face — to confront
  20. charge — in control
  21. charge — a price
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. scale — size or range

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