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: wound · nail · perch · trunk · stick · fan · hand · bore

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. wound — an injury
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. hand — help
  10. bore — to drill
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. perch — the fish
  20. wound — an injury
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. hand — in cards
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. bore — to tire

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