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: lean · wax · can · firm · bank · current · stick · present

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. firm — a company
  4. can — a tin
  5. firm — decided
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. lean — to bend
  8. wax — to grow
  9. bank — of a river
  10. firm — steady
  11. bank — for money
  12. lean — thin
  13. present — a gift
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. current — of water
  16. present — there
  17. current — happening now
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. present — the time now
  20. bank — for money
  21. current — electric
  22. can — a tin
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. can — to be able to

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