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: wax · tube · sharp · track · wound · mug · rush · plane

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. plane — a tool
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. rush — hurry
  9. wound — an injury
  10. track — a path
  11. mug — to rob
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. sharp — clever
  14. mug — a cup
  15. mug — a face
  16. wound — an injury
  17. track — to keep track
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. tube — the underground
  21. track — a song
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. wax — to grow
  24. wax — for sculpting

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