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: bay · key · wax · current · roll · cabinet · chip · foot

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. current — happening now
  3. current — of water
  4. key — in music
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. roll — a list
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. foot — a measure
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. current — electric
  14. key — for a lock
  15. key — the most important part
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. chip — for betting
  18. chip — to eat
  19. wax — to grow
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. roll — a cake
  24. cabinet — ministers

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