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: wake · lash · wave · toast · scale · stand · board · fan

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. toast — bread
  3. stand — to bear
  4. scale — size or range
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. scale — in music
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. board — a committee
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. board — to get on
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. wake — a trail
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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