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: ruler · root · mate · stick · rest · wax · mouse · bear

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. wax — to grow
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. bear — the animal
  5. rest — what's left
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. rest — what's left
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. root — of a plant
  13. bear — the animal
  14. root — the cause
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. rest — a break
  19. root — of a word
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. mate — to breed
  22. mate — a partner
  23. mate — a friend
  24. mouse — the animal

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