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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. mug — a face
  3. can — a tin
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. saw — the tool
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. can — a tin
  8. mug — a cup
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. can — to be able to
  12. board — to get on
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. board — a committee
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. wax — to grow
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. mug — to rob
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. saw — the tool
  23. squash — to crush
  24. squash — the sport

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