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: lash · suit · perch · arm · wax · club · leaves · charge

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. suit — in cards
  4. wax — to grow
  5. charge — a price
  6. club — for golf
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. charge — electricity
  11. suit — to fit
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. club — for dancing
  15. club — a group
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. charge — in control
  18. perch — the fish
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. suit — clothes
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. leaves — lets stay

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