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: bass · can · spring · racket · perch · foot · bank · wound

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. wound — an injury
  3. bank — for money
  4. can — a tin
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. wound — an injury
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. bass — the fish
  9. spring — a coil
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. bank — of a river
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. foot — a measure
  16. bass — low music
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. perch — the fish
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. can — to be able to
  21. spring — the season
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. spring — of water
  24. bank — for money

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