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: dip · fan · wave · prune · perch · branch · stick · nail

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. prune — to trim
  3. perch — the fish
  4. dip — to sink
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. branch — a division
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. prune — to trim
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. branch — 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