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 116 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: bulb · mark · chip · trunk · charge · wave · wax · bound

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. bulb — for light
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. wax — to grow
  5. chip — for betting
  6. bulb — for light
  7. chip — to eat
  8. bound — tied together
  9. bound — obliged
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. charge — electricity
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. mark — a trace
  15. mark — a grade
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. charge — a price
  18. bound — certain
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. charge — in control
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. bulb — of a plant

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