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: hand · fine · calf · current · snap · wake · wax · safe

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. wax — to grow
  4. hand — help
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. snap — to click
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. current — electric
  11. fine — all right
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. hand — in cards
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. current — of water
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. current — happening now
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. fine — high quality

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