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: perch · arm · swing · bore · bound · firm · scale · charge

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. David sat on the ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  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. swing — in golf
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. scale — size or range
  4. swing — to play on
  5. bound — certain
  6. bore — to tire
  7. scale — in music
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. firm — a company
  10. bore — to drill
  11. bound — tied together
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. firm — steady
  15. charge — electricity
  16. charge — in control
  17. swing — music
  18. firm — decided
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. bound — obliged
  21. charge — a price
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. scale — for weighing
  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