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: wax · safe · wound · nail · mine · lie · pass · date

  1. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. pass — a permit
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. wound — an injury
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. lie — to recline
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. mine — for digging
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. date — the fruit
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. wound — an injury
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. wax — to grow
  24. date — on the calendar

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