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 116 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: wax · sharp · straw · current · pass · pitch · calf · suit

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. wax — to grow
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. current — of water
  10. suit — clothes
  11. pitch — completely
  12. current — electric
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. current — happening now
  15. sharp — clever
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. straw — a straw man
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. pass — a permit
  24. suit — to fit

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