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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. kid — to tease
  4. prune — to trim
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  7. rash — hasty
  8. prune — to trim
  9. key — in music
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. kid — child
  14. key — the most important part
  15. lean — thin
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. wax — to grow
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. rash — a series
  20. board — to get on
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. lean — to bend
  23. key — for a lock
  24. board — a committee

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