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: wax · row · coach · fine · tube · current · suit · hide

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. row — a line
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. tube — a container
  7. suit — to fit
  8. tube — the underground
  9. row — to paddle
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. current — of water
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. current — happening now
  15. wax — to grow
  16. suit — clothes
  17. fine — high quality
  18. current — electric
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. suit — in cards
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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