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: can · rest · dip · wax · pop · mug · lie · wound

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. can — a tin
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. pop — to visit
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. rest — what's left
  7. mug — a cup
  8. pop — soda
  9. can — to be able to
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. pop — music
  13. wax — to grow
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. wound — an injury
  16. can — a tin
  17. rest — a break
  18. wound — an injury
  19. rest — what's left
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. mug — to rob
  23. dip — to sink
  24. mug — a face

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