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: pop · file · cue · ball · sharp · perch · drill · bear

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. file — a tool
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. ball — a dance
  6. pop — soda
  7. pop — music
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. pop — to visit
  10. cue — a hint
  11. drill — the tool
  12. cue — for pool
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. file — a line of people
  15. bear — the animal
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. perch — the fish
  18. ball — a great time
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. bear — the animal
  21. cue — a signal
  22. sharp — clever
  23. drill — army training
  24. drill — a practice

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