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 museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. mark — a grade
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. bat — the animal
  8. rash — hasty
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. rash — a series
  12. bat — in an idiom
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. mark — a trace
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. wax — to grow
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. bat — for baseball
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. foot — a measure
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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