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 120 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: pop · wax · lean · bulb · wound · fan · mark · drill

  1. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. mark — a grade
  5. bulb — for light
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. lean — to bend
  8. wax — to grow
  9. wound — an injury
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. pop — to visit
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. lean — thin
  15. mark — a trace
  16. drill — the tool
  17. pop — music
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. wound — an injury
  20. bulb — for light
  21. drill — army training
  22. drill — a practice
  23. pop — soda
  24. fan — a supporter

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