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 moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. field — farmland
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. field — for sport
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. foot — a measure
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. charge — a price
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. charge — electricity
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. charge — in control
  24. field — a subject

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