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: cap · key · current · wave · object · wax · dip · sharp

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. current — of water
  3. current — electric
  4. cap — a lid
  5. key — in music
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. sharp — clever
  11. object — to protest
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. cap — a hat
  16. cap — of ice
  17. dip — to sink
  18. wax — to grow
  19. key — for a lock
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. current — happening now
  23. key — the most important part
  24. object — an aim

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