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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. shower — rain
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. shower — to wash
  5. wax — to grow
  6. staff — a stick
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. suit — in cards
  11. press — newspapers
  12. suit — to fit
  13. ball — a dance
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. staff — employees
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. press — a publisher
  18. suit — clothes
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. ball — a great time
  23. staff — employees
  24. press — to push

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