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: scale · cabinet · wax · firm · perch · bowl · safe · wound

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. firm — a company
  5. firm — decided
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. firm — steady
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. wound — an injury
  13. scale — size or range
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. scale — in music
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. wax — to grow
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. wound — an injury
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. perch — the fish

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