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 120 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 light ________________ burned out.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. wax — to grow
  3. suit — in cards
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. suit — clothes
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. spell — letters
  9. spell — a short time
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. chair — a professorship
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. dip — to sink
  15. suit — to fit
  16. bulb — for light
  17. board — to get on
  18. board — a committee
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. chair — a leader
  22. spell — magic
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. wax — in the ear

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