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: bore · bound · rash · plane · march · swing · wax · bulb

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. rash — hasty
  3. rash — a series
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. bound — certain
  7. bound — obliged
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. march — music
  11. march — the month
  12. bulb — for light
  13. swing — music
  14. bound — tied together
  15. march — the month
  16. bore — to drill
  17. bulb — for light
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. swing — to play on
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. wax — to grow
  22. bore — to tire
  23. swing — in golf
  24. plane — an aircraft

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