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: mug · wax · root · coach · straw · lie · ball · spell

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. root — of a plant
  4. mug — a face
  5. wax — to grow
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. root — of a word
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. spell — a short time
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. mug — a cup
  13. lie — to recline
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. mug — to rob
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. root — the cause
  18. ball — a great time
  19. straw — dry grass
  20. spell — magic
  21. ball — a dance
  22. spell — letters
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. straw — to clutch at straws

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