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: land · can · charge · bulb · mug · mine · fork · wax

  1. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — ground
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. mine — for digging
  4. charge — electricity
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. bulb — for light
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. can — a tin
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. can — to be able to
  14. land — a country
  15. can — a tin
  16. land — to come down
  17. charge — a price
  18. wax — to grow
  19. mug — a cup
  20. charge — in control
  21. mug — to rob
  22. fork — in a road
  23. mug — a face
  24. bulb — for light

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