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: track · present · lash · wax · race · rock · prune · roll

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. track — a path
  3. roll — a cake
  4. present — the time now
  5. race — a contest
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. roll — a list
  8. prune — to trim
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. present — a gift
  11. prune — to trim
  12. rock — a stone
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. track — a song
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. race — the arms race
  19. track — to keep track
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. present — there
  22. rock — music
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. race — humankind

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