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: suit · bound · wake · branch · coach · scale · rock · wax

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. wax — to grow
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. scale — in music
  8. wake — a trail
  9. suit — to fit
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. rock — a stone
  12. bound — tied together
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. rock — music
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. suit — clothes
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. suit — in cards
  20. scale — size or range
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bound — certain
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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