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. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. can — to be able to
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. mine — for digging
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. rock — music
  9. wax — to grow
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. bass — low music
  12. can — a tin
  13. rock — a stone
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. chip — for betting
  18. bass — the fish
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. can — a tin
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. chip — to eat

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