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: pop · lean · bat · cap · season · wax · bay · plane

  1. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  2. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — for baseball
  2. bat — the animal
  3. pop — music
  4. plane — a tool
  5. bat — in an idiom
  6. cap — a hat
  7. cap — of ice
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. lean — thin
  13. pop — to visit
  14. season — in sport
  15. season — of the year
  16. lean — to bend
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. pop — soda
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. cap — a lid
  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