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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. drill — army training
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. pop — music
  6. charge — in control
  7. drill — the tool
  8. pass — a permit
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. drill — a practice
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. pop — to visit
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. pop — soda
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. charge — a price
  21. wax — to grow
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. charge — electricity
  24. saw — the tool

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