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: fine · can · wax · rush · dip · perch · fan · lash

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. wax — to grow
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — a tin
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. can — to be able to
  16. fine — high quality
  17. perch — the fish
  18. rush — hurry
  19. fine — all right
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. dip — to sink

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