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: rush · hand · wax · can · board · mouse · mate · nail

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. can — to be able to
  6. wax — to grow
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. board — to get on
  9. mate — a friend
  10. can — a tin
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. hand — in cards
  13. rush — hurry
  14. mate — to breed
  15. board — a committee
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. hand — help
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mate — a partner

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