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: mouse · ball · perch · kick · pass · dip · saw · chip

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. dip — to sink
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. saw — the tool
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. chip — for betting
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. kick — in football
  14. ball — a dance
  15. chip — to eat
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. saw — the tool
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. perch — the fish
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. pass — a permit
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. kick — with a leg

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