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: bay · plane · press · perch · wax · drill · lie · key

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. key — in music
  4. press — a publisher
  5. key — the most important part
  6. drill — the tool
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. lie — to recline
  9. press — newspapers
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. wax — to grow
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. plane — a tool
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. key — for a lock
  19. perch — the fish
  20. press — to push
  21. drill — army training
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. drill — a practice

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