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: leaves · perch · calf · stock · hand · lie · scale · cue

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. cue — a hint
  6. hand — help
  7. cue — for pool
  8. cue — a signal
  9. scale — in music
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. perch — the fish
  13. lie — to recline
  14. stock — shares
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. hand — in cards
  18. scale — size or range
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. stock — goods
  24. lie — an untruth

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