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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. suit — in cards
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. hand — in cards
  7. pit — a hole
  8. suit — to fit
  9. pit — in a race
  10. suit — clothes
  11. stand — to bear
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. wake — a trail
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. hand — help
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. wax — to grow
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. leaves — to go away

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