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: charge · wax · bulb · stick · stock · arm · wound · fine

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. charge — a price
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. fine — all right
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. stock — shares
  7. bulb — for light
  8. wound — an injury
  9. bulb — for light
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. wound — an injury
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. wax — to grow
  15. fine — high quality
  16. stock — goods
  17. charge — electricity
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. charge — in control
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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