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: kick · perch · bear · mouse · pop · ball · pit · bark

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. bark — to shout
  4. ball — a dance
  5. perch — the fish
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. pop — to visit
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. pit — a hole
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. kick — in football
  15. kick — a thrill
  16. bear — the animal
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. bear — the animal
  19. pop — soda
  20. ball — a great time
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. kick — with a leg
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. pop — music

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