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: bank · straw · toast · march · can · coach · charge · wax

  1. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. bank — for money
  3. charge — a price
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. march — the month
  10. march — the month
  11. march — music
  12. can — a tin
  13. bank — of a river
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. wax — to grow
  16. can — a tin
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. can — to be able to
  19. bank — for money
  20. charge — in control
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. charge — electricity
  24. toast — bread

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