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 · perch · stand · arm · roll · mark · fall · sharp

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. perch — the fish
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. roll — a cake
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. scale — in music
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. scale — size or range
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. stand — to bear
  14. mark — a grade
  15. roll — a list
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. fall — the season
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. fall — to drop
  20. sharp — clever
  21. mark — a trace
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. fall — to drop
  24. stand — on your feet

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