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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. firm — steady
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. current — happening now
  6. board — a committee
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. firm — decided
  10. wax — to grow
  11. bear — the animal
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. fine — all right
  14. bear — the animal
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. stand — to bear
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. board — to get on
  19. current — of water
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. fine — high quality
  23. current — electric
  24. firm — a company

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