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: perch · bay · bore · scale · track · rock · charge · wind

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  6. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. charge — in control
  5. wind — moving air
  6. wind — moving air
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. perch — the fish
  9. charge — a price
  10. charge — electricity
  11. bore — to drill
  12. scale — in music
  13. track — a path
  14. track — to keep track
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. rock — a stone
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. wind — to turn a key
  20. bore — to tire
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. track — a song
  24. rock — music

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