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: staff · rash · bulb · ball · wax · scale · safe · band

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. bulb — for light
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. scale — in music
  7. staff — a stick
  8. rash — hasty
  9. staff — employees
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. staff — employees
  12. rash — a series
  13. ball — a dance
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. band — a ring
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. band — a music group
  19. bulb — for light
  20. wax — to grow
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. ball — a great time

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