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: safe · bat · cap · fine · lean · wax · game · rock

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. game — a match
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. fine — all right
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. bat — the animal
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. game — wild animals
  9. wax — to grow
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. rock — music
  14. cap — a hat
  15. bat — for baseball
  16. cap — of ice
  17. cap — a lid
  18. bat — in an idiom
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. rock — a stone
  21. fine — high quality
  22. lean — thin
  23. lean — to bend
  24. rock — to move gently

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