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 · can · stem · cabinet · bound · stand · deal · perch

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. key — for a lock
  3. stand — to bear
  4. perch — the fish
  5. stem — to come from
  6. key — in music
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. bound — obliged
  9. bound — tied together
  10. key — the most important part
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. bound — certain
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. deal — to handle
  20. can — to be able to
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. can — a tin
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. deal — a big deal

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