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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. roll — a list
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. wax — to grow
  8. rock — a stone
  9. march — the month
  10. march — music
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. rock — music
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. roll — a cake
  17. pass — a permit
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. march — the month
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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