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: pass · board · rash · pitch · perch · bound · snap · mug

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. rash — hasty
  4. board — to get on
  5. mug — to rob
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. mug — a face
  10. pass — a permit
  11. rash — a series
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. perch — the fish
  15. bound — obliged
  16. mug — a cup
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. pitch — completely
  20. snap — to click
  21. bound — certain
  22. board — a committee
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. bound — tied together

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