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: chip · arm · firm · sharp · content · wax · ruler · rule

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  24. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. chip — for betting
  3. rule — government
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. rule — to rule out
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. content — happy
  13. firm — steady
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. chip — to eat
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. sharp — clever
  19. firm — a company
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. wax — to grow
  22. firm — decided
  23. content — the amount
  24. rule — a law

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