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: wax · suit · dip · stand · ball · mouse · mine · staff

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. staff — a stick
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. staff — employees
  6. ball — a great time
  7. suit — clothes
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. dip — to sink
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. stand — to bear
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. suit — to fit
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. suit — in cards
  17. wax — to grow
  18. staff — employees
  19. mine — for digging
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. ball — a dance
  24. mouse — the animal

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