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: safe · lie · wax · prune · season · wound · chip · key

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. season — in sport
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. prune — to trim
  5. wound — an injury
  6. wound — an injury
  7. chip — for betting
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. chip — to eat
  12. season — of the year
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. prune — to trim
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. wax — to grow
  18. key — for a lock
  19. key — in music
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. lie — to recline
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. season — to add flavour

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