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 116 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: fall · perch · pitcher · bank · ground · plane · calf · dip

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. plane — a tool
  3. ground — crushed
  4. perch — the fish
  5. bank — for money
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. fall — to drop
  9. ground — a position
  10. bank — for money
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. ground — the earth
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. bank — of a river
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. fall — the season
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. fall — to drop

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