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: ground · trunk · content · lash · current · temple · rock · sharp

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. ground — the earth
  4. current — electric
  5. ground — a position
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. sharp — clever
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. content — the amount
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. current — happening now
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. content — happy
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. ground — crushed
  18. rock — music
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. current — of water
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. rock — to move gently

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