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: bear · foot · cue · sharp · lash · wax · ruler · bulb

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. cue — for pool
  7. cue — a hint
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. bulb — for light
  11. sharp — clever
  12. bear — the animal
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. foot — a measure
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bear — the animal
  20. wax — to grow
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. cue — a signal
  24. sharp — with an edge

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