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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. rest — what's left
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. track — a path
  6. bank — of a river
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. wax — to grow
  11. track — a song
  12. bore — to drill
  13. rest — a break
  14. current — of water
  15. current — happening now
  16. bank — for money
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. rest — what's left
  19. bank — for money
  20. current — electric
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. date — the fruit
  23. track — to keep track
  24. wax — for sculpting

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