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 120 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: rest · content · cabinet · bat · leaves · nail · wax · bulb

  1. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. rest — what's left
  5. rest — what's left
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. bulb — for light
  10. content — the amount
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bat — the animal
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. wax — to grow
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. rest — a break
  18. content — happy
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bat — for baseball
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. leaves — of a tree

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