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: field · spell · wake · rock · suit · temple · bark · wax

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. suit — in cards
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. field — farmland
  7. bark — of a tree
  8. spell — magic
  9. field — for sport
  10. spell — a short time
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. field — a subject
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. suit — to fit
  15. spell — letters
  16. suit — clothes
  17. rock — a stone
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. rock — music
  23. wax — to grow
  24. bark — to shout

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