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: track · charge · rock · branch · racket · chip · spring · rash

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  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. charge — in control
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. charge — electricity
  5. spring — a coil
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. branch — a division
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. chip — to eat
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. rash — a series
  12. charge — a price
  13. chip — for betting
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. rash — hasty
  16. rock — a stone
  17. track — a path
  18. spring — of water
  19. spring — the season
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. track — to keep track
  22. rock — music
  23. track — a song
  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