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: ruler · lash · stick · plane · wax · jam

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. wax — to grow
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. plane — a tool
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. lash — to lash out

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