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: ruler · ball · leaves · straw · fan · perch · key · mate

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. straw — to clutch at straws
  8. mate — to breed
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. key — in music
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. ball — a dance
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. mate — a partner
  18. key — for a lock
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. key — the most important part
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. ball — a great time
  24. mate — a friend

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