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: toast · row · wax · deal · mug · lean · leaves · tube

  1. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a quarrel
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. toast — bread
  4. tube — the underground
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. mug — a cup
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. lean — to bend
  10. row — to paddle
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. row — a line
  13. lean — thin
  14. mug — a face
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. wax — to grow
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. mug — to rob
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. tube — a container
  22. deal — to handle
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. leaves — of a tree

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