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: bulb · bay · pitch · suit · bass · wax · cell · dip

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. dip — to sink
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. bass — low music
  6. pitch — completely
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. suit — clothes
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. wax — to grow
  17. suit — in cards
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. suit — to fit
  20. bass — the fish
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. cell — in biology
  23. bulb — for light
  24. cell — a phone

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