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: mouse · stock · wax · lash · rest · bore · coach · cabinet

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. bore — to drill
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. rest — what's left
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. bore — to tire
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. stock — shares
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. rest — what's left
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. rest — a break
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. stock — goods
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. wax — to grow
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. lash — to lash out

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