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: scale · stem · perch · cue · wound · bank · mug · row

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. cue — for pool
  5. scale — in music
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. cue — a hint
  8. wound — an injury
  9. wound — an injury
  10. bank — for money
  11. row — a line
  12. scale — size or range
  13. bank — for money
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. row — to paddle
  16. stem — to come from
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. mug — to rob
  19. cue — a signal
  20. mug — a cup
  21. bank — of a river
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. perch — the fish
  24. mug — a face

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