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: plane · firm · suit · foot · date · game · wax · bass

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. bass — the fish
  3. suit — in cards
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. wax — to grow
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. game — wild animals
  10. date — the fruit
  11. bass — low music
  12. game — a match
  13. firm — steady
  14. suit — clothes
  15. plane — a tool
  16. firm — a company
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. firm — decided
  20. foot — a measure
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. suit — to fit
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. date — on the calendar

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