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: lean · pop · perch · saw · mug · toast · wax · coach

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. saw — the tool
  3. saw — the tool
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. lean — thin
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. mug — a cup
  8. pop — music
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. mug — to rob
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. wax — to grow
  14. pop — soda
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. pop — to visit
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. lean — to bend
  21. perch — the fish
  22. toast — bread
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. mug — a face

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