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 120 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. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. mate — a friend
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. mark — a trace
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mate — a partner
  8. mate — to breed
  9. wax — to grow
  10. current — happening now
  11. staff — employees
  12. fall — the season
  13. current — of water
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. staff — a stick
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. staff — employees
  20. fall — to drop
  21. pass — a permit
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. current — electric
  24. mark — a grade

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