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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. drill — the tool
  3. wax — to grow
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. pop — soda
  6. bound — tied together
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. bound — certain
  10. drill — army training
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. charge — in control
  14. pop — to visit
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. bound — obliged
  19. drill — a practice
  20. pop — music
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. charge — electricity
  24. coach — a trainer

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