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. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  2. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — to cut
  2. clip — for paper
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. wax — to grow
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. board — a committee
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. snap — to click
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. tube — a container
  15. lie — to recline
  16. clip — a video
  17. board — to get on
  18. rush — hurry
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. tube — the underground

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