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 · staff · bay · trunk · pit · pitcher · wax · rock

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. rock — a stone
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. wake — a trail
  9. staff — a stick
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. wax — to grow
  13. staff — employees
  14. pit — in a race
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. rock — music
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. pit — a hole
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. staff — employees

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