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: net · jam · patient · toast · lean · wax · vault · trunk

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. net — in sport
  3. lean — thin
  4. wax — to grow
  5. net — for catching
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. vault — a safe
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. net — after costs
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. lean — to bend
  23. toast — bread
  24. trunk — of a tree

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