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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. field — for sport
  3. field — a subject
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. wax — to grow
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. fall — to drop
  9. roll — a list
  10. fall — the season
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. fall — to drop
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. fork — in a road
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. saw — the tool
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. roll — a cake
  20. saw — the tool
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. field — farmland
  23. pit — a hole
  24. wax — for sculpting

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