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: rock · suit · scale · fine · cabinet · nail · club · wax

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. scale — size or range
  6. suit — in cards
  7. club — a group
  8. rock — music
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. scale — in music
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. fine — high quality
  13. fine — all right
  14. rock — a stone
  15. club — for golf
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. suit — to fit
  20. club — for dancing
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. suit — clothes
  24. nail — on a finger

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