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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. rock — music
  3. bore — to drill
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. toast — bread
  6. mate — a partner
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. mate — a friend
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. pop — to visit
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. wax — to grow
  19. mate — to breed
  20. rock — a stone
  21. vault — a safe
  22. pop — soda
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. bore — to tire

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