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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. fork — in a road
  5. bound — obliged
  6. rest — a break
  7. toast — bread
  8. rest — what's left
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. key — for a lock
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. key — the most important part
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. bound — certain
  16. rest — what's left
  17. wax — to grow
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. ball — a dance
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. bound — tied together
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. ball — a great time
  24. key — in music

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