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: row · hide · dip · calf · wax · fan · pitcher · can

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. row — to paddle
  3. row — a line
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. wax — to grow
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. can — to be able to
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. can — a tin
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. dip — to sink
  19. can — a tin
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. calf — a young animal

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