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: bowl · mine · mouse · rock · key · bank · object · wax

  1. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. key — the most important part
  3. rock — music
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. wax — to grow
  8. rock — a stone
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. key — in music
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. bank — for money
  13. key — for a lock
  14. object — to protest
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. object — a thing
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. object — an aim
  20. mine — for digging
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. bank — of a river
  24. bank — for money

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