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. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. bound — tied together
  5. wax — to grow
  6. rush — hurry
  7. row — to paddle
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. chip — to eat
  10. bound — certain
  11. bound — obliged
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. ball — a great time
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. can — a tin
  16. ball — a dance
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. chip — for betting
  19. pass — a permit
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. can — a tin
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. can — to be able to

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