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: current · scale · pass · charge · branch · fork · net · mark

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. pass — a permit
  5. charge — electricity
  6. fork — in a road
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. current — happening now
  9. current — electric
  10. scale — in music
  11. mark — a grade
  12. branch — a division
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. mark — a trace
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. net — after costs
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. current — of water
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. net — for catching
  22. scale — size or range
  23. net — in sport
  24. charge — in control

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