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: spell · lash · march · dip · firm · wax · mark · can

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. march — the month
  3. spell — letters
  4. mark — a trace
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. march — the month
  8. mark — a grade
  9. firm — decided
  10. firm — a company
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. firm — steady
  13. spell — a short time
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. spell — magic
  17. can — a tin
  18. march — music
  19. dip — to sink
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. can — to be able to
  22. wax — to grow
  23. can — a tin
  24. lash — to lash out

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