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: lash · wax · bass · perch · ground · racket · rush · saw

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. saw — the tool
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. bass — low music
  8. perch — the fish
  9. bass — the fish
  10. ground — the earth
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. wax — to grow
  14. rush — hurry
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. ground — a position
  22. ground — crushed
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. saw — the tool

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