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 120 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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. wake — a trail
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. vault — a safe
  8. stand — to bear
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. wax — to grow
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. hand — help
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. shower — to wash
  20. shower — rain
  21. hand — in cards
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. wax — in the ear

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