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: current · key · arm · pitcher · can · leaves · wax · trunk

  1. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — to be able to
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. current — of water
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. current — happening now
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. wax — to grow
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — in music
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. current — electric
  23. can — a tin
  24. key — for a lock

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