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 120 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 · bay · rock · foot · wax · lean · chair · coach

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. foot — a measure
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. lean — to bend
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. lean — thin
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. bulb — for light
  12. rock — a stone
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. wax — to grow
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. rock — music
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. chair — to sit on
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. chair — a leader

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