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 116 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: bank · perch · pit · pitch · ball · cabinet · ground · current

  1. There's no middle ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  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. ground — a position
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. pit — a hole
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. current — electric
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. ball — a dance
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. bank — for money
  11. pitch — completely
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. ground — crushed
  15. current — happening now
  16. bank — of a river
  17. perch — the fish
  18. current — of water
  19. pit — in a race
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. ball — a great time
  22. ground — the earth
  23. cabinet — ministers
  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