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: arm · patient · chip · saw · bass · board · wax · bound

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. saw — the tool
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. board — a committee
  6. bound — certain
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. chip — for betting
  9. bass — low music
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. board — to get on
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. chip — to eat
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. bass — the fish
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. bound — obliged
  21. saw — the tool
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. wax — to grow

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