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 116 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 · key · lie · squash · game · trunk · rest · wax

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. rest — what's left
  5. rest — a break
  6. key — for a lock
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. game — wild animals
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. firm — a company
  11. wax — to grow
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. squash — the sport
  14. rest — what's left
  15. firm — decided
  16. lie — to recline
  17. key — in music
  18. key — the most important part
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. game — a match
  22. squash — to crush
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. firm — steady

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