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: wax · season · craft · jam · can · bass · chip · drill

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. can — a tin
  3. drill — a practice
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. wax — to grow
  7. bass — the fish
  8. drill — army training
  9. craft — boats
  10. can — a tin
  11. season — of the year
  12. can — to be able to
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. chip — to eat
  16. craft — a skill
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. drill — the tool
  20. season — in sport
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. chip — for betting
  24. bass — low music

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