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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. lean — to bend
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. court — of law
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. ball — a dance
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. foot — a measure
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. wax — to grow
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. ball — a great time
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. lean — thin
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. court — for sport
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. court — of a king

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