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: shower · saw · can · charge · bass · fine · last · perch

  1. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. False peace will not ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  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. last — finally
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. last — to go on
  5. charge — in control
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. bass — the fish
  9. bass — low music
  10. shower — rain
  11. shower — to wash
  12. saw — the tool
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. can — a tin
  15. charge — a price
  16. perch — the fish
  17. saw — the tool
  18. can — a tin
  19. charge — electricity
  20. fine — high quality
  21. can — to be able to
  22. fine — all right
  23. last — final
  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