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: season · perch · plane · fan · jam · kick · can · firm

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. plane — a tool
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. firm — a company
  6. perch — the fish
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. season — in sport
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — to be able to
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. season — of the year
  15. kick — a thrill
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. firm — steady
  20. can — a tin
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. kick — in football
  24. firm — decided

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