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: pit · stick · suit · fan · face · pass · content · wax

  1. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. pit — in a race
  3. suit — to fit
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. content — happy
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. suit — in cards
  11. face — part of the head
  12. pit — a hole
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. face — to confront
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. content — the amount
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. wax — to grow
  20. pass — a permit
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. suit — clothes
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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