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 office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. foot — a measure
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. wax — to grow
  9. bat — for baseball
  10. staff — employees
  11. current — of water
  12. current — electric
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. staff — a stick
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. bat — the animal
  20. tube — a container
  21. tube — the underground
  22. bat — in an idiom
  23. current — happening now
  24. foot — the bottom

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