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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. pitch — completely
  4. land — a country
  5. net — in sport
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. land — to come down
  9. saw — the tool
  10. can — a tin
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. bulb — for light
  14. can — to be able to
  15. can — a tin
  16. land — ground
  17. bulb — for light
  18. net — after costs
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. net — for catching
  23. wax — to grow
  24. arm — part of the body

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