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: perch · rock · bulb · key · arm · branch · bore · deal

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. bulb — for light
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. key — the most important part
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. deal — to handle
  9. branch — a division
  10. bulb — for light
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. key — in music
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. perch — the fish
  16. bore — to drill
  17. rock — a stone
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. rock — music
  20. key — for a lock
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. bore — to tire
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. branch — of a bank

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