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: mouse · key · lash · staff · land · board · foot · wax

  1. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. land — ground
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. board — a committee
  7. staff — employees
  8. staff — a stick
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. staff — employees
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. key — the most important part
  13. key — in music
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. foot — a measure
  16. board — to get on
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. land — to come down
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. wax — to grow
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. key — for a lock
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. lash — an eyelash

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