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: can · nail · net · pound · wax · dip · file · clip

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  13. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. clip — for paper
  4. can — a tin
  5. pound — for dogs
  6. file — a tool
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. can — to be able to
  9. net — after costs
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. dip — to sink
  12. clip — to cut
  13. clip — a video
  14. net — for catching
  15. file — a document
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. can — a tin
  19. wax — to grow
  20. net — in sport
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. pound — a weight
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. wax — in the ear

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