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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. charge — in control
  3. race — humankind
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. track — to keep track
  6. race — a contest
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. board — a committee
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. race — the arms race
  14. track — a song
  15. wax — to grow
  16. charge — electricity
  17. board — to get on
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. track — a path
  23. charge — a price
  24. wax — for sculpting

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