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 · safe · charge · craft · foot · spell · swing · sharp

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. wax — to grow
  5. craft — a skill
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. spell — magic
  9. spell — letters
  10. swing — in golf
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. charge — a price
  13. craft — boats
  14. spell — a short time
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. foot — a measure
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. sharp — clever
  20. charge — electricity
  21. swing — to play on
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. charge — in control
  24. sharp — with an edge

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