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: firm · tear · pitch · wax · key · coach · ball · toast

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. key — in music
  4. key — for a lock
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. ball — a great time
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. tear — from crying
  9. pitch — completely
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. firm — a company
  12. key — the most important part
  13. firm — steady
  14. toast — bread
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. firm — decided
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. tear — to rip
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. tear — from crying
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. ball — a dance

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