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: scale · jam · bank · mug · last · wax · mouse · mark

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. At ________________, we arrived at the village.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. wax — to grow
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. mark — a grade
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. bank — for money
  11. mug — a face
  12. last — to go on
  13. bank — of a river
  14. last — final
  15. scale — size or range
  16. mug — a cup
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. mark — a trace
  20. mug — to rob
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. bank — for money
  24. last — finally

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