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: staff · key · snap · bass · court · wax · lie · bound

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. bass — the fish
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. key — for a lock
  5. bound — tied together
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. court — of law
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. court — of a king
  12. bound — certain
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. court — for sport
  15. snap — to click
  16. lie — to recline
  17. bound — obliged
  18. bass — low music
  19. staff — employees
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. wax — to grow
  22. key — the most important part
  23. key — in music
  24. staff — employees

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