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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. can — a tin
  4. mug — a face
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. file — a tool
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. cue — for pool
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. mug — to rob
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. snap — to click
  13. mug — a cup
  14. mark — a grade
  15. cue — a signal
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. file — a document
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. cue — a hint
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. mark — a trace
  22. wax — to grow
  23. file — a line of people
  24. can — to be able to

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