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: jam · saw · key · squash · bear · wax · chip · bay

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. key — for a lock
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. chip — to eat
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. squash — to crush
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. key — the most important part
  11. saw — the tool
  12. chip — for betting
  13. bear — the animal
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. squash — the sport
  18. saw — the tool
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. wax — to grow
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. bear — the animal
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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