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: foot · fan · stand · wax · press · deal · trunk · club

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. foot — a measure
  4. press — newspapers
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. club — a group
  7. press — to push
  8. club — for dancing
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. club — for golf
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. wax — to grow
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. stand — to bear
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. deal — to handle
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. press — a publisher

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