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: present · wax · scale · object · wound · perch · coach · rock

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  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. object — a thing
  2. scale — in music
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. rock — music
  5. perch — the fish
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. wax — to grow
  9. present — there
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. object — to protest
  12. wound — an injury
  13. scale — size or range
  14. wound — an injury
  15. present — the time now
  16. rock — a stone
  17. present — a gift
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. object — an aim
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. rock — to move gently
  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