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: coach · cap · present · suit · bulb · ball · arm · wax

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. cap — of ice
  3. present — a gift
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. bulb — for light
  6. wax — to grow
  7. present — there
  8. cap — a lid
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. suit — in cards
  11. present — the time now
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. suit — to fit
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. ball — a dance
  20. suit — clothes
  21. ball — a great time
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. cap — a hat

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