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: wax · last · safe · snap · charge · spring · mug · fan

  1. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. last — finally
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. spring — of water
  5. last — to go on
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. last — final
  9. charge — in control
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. mug — to rob
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. mug — a cup
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. spring — the season
  18. wax — to grow
  19. charge — electricity
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. snap — to click
  22. charge — a price
  23. spring — a coil
  24. mug — a face

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