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: pitcher · leaves · saw · dip · bulb · ground · craft · bound

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. bound — certain
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. ground — a position
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. bulb — for light
  10. craft — boats
  11. craft — a skill
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. bulb — for light
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. ground — crushed
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. saw — the tool
  19. dip — to sink
  20. ground — the earth
  21. bound — obliged
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. saw — the tool

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