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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. pit — in a race
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. pit — a hole
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. board — a committee
  7. key — in music
  8. bank — for money
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. key — for a lock
  13. bank — for money
  14. can — to be able to
  15. key — the most important part
  16. board — to get on
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. wax — to grow
  19. bark — to shout
  20. can — a tin
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. can — a tin
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. fan — a supporter

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