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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. saw — the tool
  6. stem — to come from
  7. rock — music
  8. rock — a stone
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. season — of the year
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. wax — to grow
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. rush — hurry
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. season — in sport
  19. saw — the tool
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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