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: bore · craft · ball · bank · can · wax · swing · tube

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bore — to drill
  3. can — a tin
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. bank — for money
  7. swing — to play on
  8. bore — to tire
  9. bank — of a river
  10. ball — a dance
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. wax — to grow
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. ball — a great time
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. swing — music
  17. craft — a skill
  18. can — to be able to
  19. tube — the underground
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. tube — a container
  22. can — a tin
  23. craft — boats
  24. swing — in golf

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