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: stand · patient · calf · pass · wake · rest · fine · wax

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. wax — to grow
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. fine — all right
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. wake — a trail
  10. rest — what's left
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. fine — high quality
  15. rest — what's left
  16. stand — to bear
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. rest — a break
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. stand — for spectators

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