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. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. deal — to handle
  5. wax — to grow
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. lie — to recline
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. stand — to bear
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. straw — a straw man
  14. root — of a plant
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. plane — a tool
  22. root — the cause
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. root — of a word

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