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 116 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 had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. wax — to grow
  4. charge — in control
  5. charge — a price
  6. bore — to drill
  7. charge — electricity
  8. perch — the fish
  9. ball — a great time
  10. straw — to clutch at straws
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. bore — to tire
  13. straw — a straw man
  14. ball — a dance
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. face — to point toward
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. face — to confront
  22. fine — all right
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. fine — high quality

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