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. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. suit — in cards
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. swing — music
  7. suit — clothes
  8. swing — to play on
  9. mark — a grade
  10. suit — to fit
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. wax — to grow
  14. field — a subject
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. mark — a trace
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. field — farmland
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. swing — in golf
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. field — for sport

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