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 tickets are free of ________________.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The water is too ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. track — a path
  4. object — an aim
  5. wax — to grow
  6. key — for a lock
  7. key — in music
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. cold — an illness
  10. track — a song
  11. charge — in control
  12. charge — electricity
  13. track — to keep track
  14. cold — not warm
  15. key — the most important part
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. cold — the Cold War
  19. lie — to recline
  20. rush — hurry
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. object — to protest
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. object — a thing

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