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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. mug — to rob
  5. rest — what's left
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. mine — for digging
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. firm — a company
  11. mug — a cup
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. wax — to grow
  14. saw — the tool
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. rest — a break
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. firm — decided
  20. mug — a face
  21. pitch — completely
  22. firm — steady
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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