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: charge · branch · lash · toast · temple · current

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. branch — a division
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. charge — in control
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. charge — a price
  10. charge — electricity
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. current — electric
  13. current — happening now
  14. current — of water
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. toast — bread
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. branch — of a bank

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