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: spell · staff · object · band · bound · pop · wax · cap

  1. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. staff — a stick
  3. object — an aim
  4. cap — a hat
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. object — a thing
  7. wax — to grow
  8. band — a ring
  9. spell — a short time
  10. bound — obliged
  11. staff — employees
  12. object — to protest
  13. staff — employees
  14. band — a music group
  15. pop — music
  16. pop — to visit
  17. cap — of ice
  18. bound — tied together
  19. bound — certain
  20. pop — soda
  21. spell — letters
  22. spell — magic
  23. cap — a lid
  24. wax — in the ear

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