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 116 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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. rock — music
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. charge — electricity
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. land — ground
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. rock — a stone
  11. charge — a price
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. wax — to grow
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. sharp — clever
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. land — to come down
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bulb — for light
  21. land — a country
  22. charge — in control
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. nail — for a hammer

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