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 · clip · pass · stand · board · sharp · bore · straw

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. clip — to cut
  4. bore — to tire
  5. straw — to clutch at straws
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. stand — to bear
  8. board — a committee
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. bore — to drill
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. sharp — clever
  13. clip — for paper
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. pass — a permit
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. board — to get on
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. clip — a video
  23. straw — a straw man
  24. pass — to succeed

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