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: coach · temple · lean · wax · tube · firm · squash · arm

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. lean — thin
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. squash — the sport
  8. wax — to grow
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. firm — decided
  11. tube — the underground
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. firm — a company
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. squash — to crush
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. lean — to bend
  20. firm — steady
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. tube — a container
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. wax — for sculpting

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