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: date · club · ball · hand · can · perch · key · ruler

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. club — a group
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. hand — help
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. date — the fruit
  9. key — the most important part
  10. can — a tin
  11. ball — a great time
  12. key — in music
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. can — a tin
  15. club — for golf
  16. ball — a dance
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. perch — the fish
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. can — to be able to
  22. club — for dancing
  23. hand — in cards
  24. key — for a lock

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