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: leaves · perch · snap · rest · current · pop · pitcher · chip

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. snap — to click
  4. pop — soda
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. pop — to visit
  10. rest — a break
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. current — electric
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. pop — music
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. rest — what's left
  19. current — of water
  20. current — happening now
  21. perch — the fish
  22. rest — what's left
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. chip — to eat

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