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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  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. scale — size or range
  2. rush — hurry
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. wound — an injury
  9. stand — to bear
  10. key — in music
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. scale — in music
  13. key — the most important part
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. wound — an injury
  17. key — for a lock
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. wax — to grow
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. stand — for spectators
  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