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: suit · bass · plane · bank · mug · wax · lean · pitcher

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. lean — thin
  3. mug — to rob
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. bank — of a river
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. lean — to bend
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. mug — a face
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. suit — to fit
  15. bank — for money
  16. wax — to grow
  17. bass — low music
  18. bass — the fish
  19. suit — clothes
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. suit — in cards
  23. plane — a tool
  24. bank — for money

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