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. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. board — a committee
  3. content — happy
  4. board — to get on
  5. net — in sport
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. bound — certain
  9. stand — to bear
  10. net — after costs
  11. net — for catching
  12. bound — obliged
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. suit — in cards
  15. suit — to fit
  16. wax — to grow
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. content — the amount
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. suit — clothes
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. bound — tied together
  24. safe — out of danger

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