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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.

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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
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Word bank
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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: pass · current · branch · charge · clip · temple · mate · land

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. When are we going to ________________?
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. branch — a division
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. mate — a partner
  5. land — to come down
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. charge — in control
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. clip — to cut
  10. land — a country
  11. clip — for paper
  12. mate — to breed
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. pass — a permit
  15. charge — electricity
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. charge — a price
  18. land — ground
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. clip — a video
  21. mate — a friend
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. current — electric
  24. current — of water

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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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