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: scale · trunk · charge · press · wound · key · fork · wax

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. wound — an injury
  3. scale — in music
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. wound — an injury
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. scale — size or range
  9. wax — to grow
  10. charge — in control
  11. press — to push
  12. charge — electricity
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. key — for a lock
  15. charge — a price
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. key — the most important part
  18. key — in music
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. fork — in a road
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. press — a publisher
  24. fork — to eat with

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