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: pass · wave · saw · stand · wax · calf · chip · net

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. saw — the tool
  3. net — for catching
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. net — in sport
  8. chip — to eat
  9. saw — the tool
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. net — after costs
  15. pass — a permit
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. chip — for betting
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. wax — to grow
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. stand — to bear
  24. calf — a young animal

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