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 moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  3. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. race — the arms race
  3. straw — a straw man
  4. suit — in cards
  5. suit — to fit
  6. mug — to rob
  7. land — ground
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. land — to come down
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. mug — a cup
  12. toast — bread
  13. firm — a company
  14. race — humankind
  15. land — a country
  16. race — a contest
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. suit — clothes
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. mug — a face
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. firm — steady
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. firm — decided

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