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: vault · current · date · racket · bulb · saw · foot · wax

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. date — the fruit
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. vault — a safe
  10. current — of water
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bulb — for light
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. foot — a measure
  15. saw — the tool
  16. current — happening now
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. saw — the tool
  24. wax — to grow

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