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. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. bound — obliged
  3. wax — to grow
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. lie — to recline
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. bound — certain
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. rock — music
  11. dip — to sink
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. rock — a stone
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. bound — tied together
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. racket — a loud noise

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