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: bear · toast · rush · cue · wax · nail · pitch · fine

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. wax — to grow
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. pitch — completely
  5. cue — for pool
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. rush — hurry
  9. bear — the animal
  10. cue — a hint
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. cue — a signal
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. bear — the animal
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. fine — all right
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. fine — high quality
  24. toast — bread

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