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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: wave · board · deal · tube · ball · scale

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. board — to get on
  5. tube — the underground
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. scale — size or range
  8. scale — in music
  9. board — a committee
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. deal — to handle
  14. ball — a great time
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. ball — a dance
  17. tube — a container
  18. deal — an agreement

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