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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 120 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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. pass — a permit
  4. charge — a price
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. lean — to bend
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. rush — hurry
  10. sharp — clever
  11. drill — a practice
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. drill — army training
  17. lean — thin
  18. charge — in control
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. charge — electricity
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. drill — the tool

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