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: bear · foot · rest · spring · stick · net · wax · leaves

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. spring — a coil
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. net — for catching
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. wax — to grow
  11. spring — of water
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. rest — a break
  15. spring — the season
  16. foot — a measure
  17. rest — what's left
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. net — after costs
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. bear — the animal
  23. rest — what's left
  24. net — in sport

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