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 120 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: firm · rush · lie · wax · track · chip · mug · bass

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. rush — hurry
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. mug — to rob
  6. track — a song
  7. firm — steady
  8. mug — a face
  9. track — to keep track
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. bass — the fish
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. bass — low music
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. track — a path
  16. firm — a company
  17. lie — to recline
  18. chip — to eat
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. chip — for betting
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. mug — a cup
  24. firm — decided

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