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: cap · perch · coach · net · cue · fine · cabinet · jam

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. cap — a hat
  6. cap — a lid
  7. net — after costs
  8. fine — high quality
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. net — for catching
  13. net — in sport
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. cap — of ice
  16. fine — all right
  17. cue — a hint
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. cue — a signal
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. perch — the fish
  24. cue — for pool

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