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: land · bay · current · rash · safe · suit · file · wax

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. When are we going to ________________?
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. suit — in cards
  3. rash — hasty
  4. suit — clothes
  5. land — to come down
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. rash — a series
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. current — happening now
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. wax — to grow
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. land — a country
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. file — a document
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. suit — to fit
  20. current — electric
  21. land — ground
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. file — a tool
  24. file — a line of people

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