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 116 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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. lie — to recline
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. key — in music
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. wax — to grow
  8. chair — a leader
  9. rest — what's left
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. chair — to sit on
  12. rush — hurry
  13. land — ground
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. rest — a break
  17. land — a country
  18. pit — a hole
  19. land — to come down
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. rest — what's left
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. pit — in a race
  24. key — the most important part

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