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 116 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: bulb · mouse · racket · wax · file · shower · leaves · patient

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. file — a document
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. bulb — for light
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. shower — rain
  10. bulb — for light
  11. shower — to wash
  12. file — a tool
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. file — a line of people
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. wax — to grow

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