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: lie · pass · ground · mouse · rush · suit · wax · dip

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. suit — in cards
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. dip — to sink
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. ground — a position
  10. pass — a permit
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. rush — hurry
  14. suit — clothes
  15. lie — to recline
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. wax — to grow
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. suit — to fit
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. ground — the earth
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. ground — crushed
  24. wax — in the ear

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