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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. wax — to grow
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. chip — to eat
  5. bore — to drill
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. bound — tied together
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. bound — obliged
  14. branch — a division
  15. bore — to tire
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. bound — certain
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. arm — part of the body

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