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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. mug — a cup
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. land — to come down
  5. band — a music group
  6. current — electric
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. current — of water
  9. current — happening now
  10. track — to keep track
  11. bass — the fish
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. track — a path
  14. wax — to grow
  15. land — ground
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. bass — low music
  19. track — a song
  20. land — a country
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. band — a ring
  24. mug — to rob

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