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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. deal — to handle
  7. squash — the sport
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. hand — help
  13. wax — to grow
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. vault — a safe
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. chip — to eat
  21. hand — in cards
  22. squash — to crush
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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