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. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. rash — a series
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. wax — to grow
  9. lie — to recline
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. file — a tool
  12. track — a path
  13. craft — boats
  14. file — a document
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. ball — a great time
  17. ball — a dance
  18. rash — hasty
  19. craft — a skill
  20. track — to keep track
  21. branch — a division
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. track — a song
  24. wax — in the ear

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