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 120 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: perch · key · bay · bank · bulb · rash · saw · file

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. key — in music
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. bank — of a river
  7. saw — the tool
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bank — for money
  10. perch — the fish
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. rash — hasty
  14. file — a line of people
  15. rash — a series
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. file — a document
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. file — a tool
  20. key — for a lock
  21. key — the most important part
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bank — for money
  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