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: bank · wax · march · bore · content · key · hand · rule

  1. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. key — in music
  3. bank — of a river
  4. bore — to drill
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. bore — to tire
  7. key — for a lock
  8. key — the most important part
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. hand — in cards
  11. hand — help
  12. rule — government
  13. march — the month
  14. content — the amount
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. march — music
  17. content — happy
  18. wax — to grow
  19. rule — a law
  20. bank — for money
  21. bank — for money
  22. march — the month
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. bore — gave birth

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