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: key · mug · stem · racket · rash · rock · perch · spell

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. key — in music
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. mug — to rob
  5. perch — the fish
  6. rock — music
  7. mug — a cup
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. spell — magic
  11. key — the most important part
  12. stem — to come from
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. rash — hasty
  17. key — for a lock
  18. spell — letters
  19. mug — a face
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. rash — a series
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. rock — a stone
  24. stem — of a plant

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