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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. bulb — for light
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. foot — a measure
  6. field — for sport
  7. wax — to grow
  8. field — a subject
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. bass — the fish
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. bass — low music
  21. plane — a tool
  22. bulb — for light
  23. field — farmland
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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