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 116 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 ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. ground — a position
  3. rock — a stone
  4. face — to confront
  5. chip — for betting
  6. pop — music
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. face — part of the head
  11. rock — music
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. stand — to bear
  14. ground — crushed
  15. chip — to eat
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. wax — to grow
  19. pop — to visit
  20. saw — the tool
  21. face — to point toward
  22. saw — the tool
  23. pop — soda
  24. rock — to move gently

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