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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.

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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. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. lean — thin
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. face — to point toward
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. charge — electricity
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. pit — a hole
  12. face — part of the head
  13. charge — a price
  14. pass — a permit
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. lean — to bend
  18. pit — in a race
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. charge — in control
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. face — to confront
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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