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: bulb · can · drill · bark · press · scale · calf · perch

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. can — to be able to
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. scale — in music
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. can — a tin
  8. perch — the fish
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. drill — a practice
  12. scale — size or range
  13. drill — army training
  14. press — a publisher
  15. press — to push
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. can — a tin
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. bark — to shout
  21. bulb — for light
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. press — newspapers
  24. bulb — for light

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