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 · can · bulb · mate · lie · mine · ball · rash

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. can — a tin
  4. mate — a friend
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. ball — a great time
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. can — a tin
  11. bulb — for light
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. ball — a dance
  16. mate — a partner
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. rash — hasty
  19. rash — a series
  20. lie — to recline
  21. mine — for digging
  22. perch — the fish
  23. mate — to breed
  24. can — to be able to

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