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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. scale — size or range
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. scale — in music
  5. mark — a trace
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. stock — shares
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. wax — to grow
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. mug — a cup
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. stock — goods
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. mark — a grade
  24. mug — to rob

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