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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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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: leaves · pitcher · pass · stock · bound · trunk · face · suit

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. face — to confront
  3. face — to point toward
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. suit — in cards
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. bound — obliged
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. stock — shares
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. bound — tied together
  18. face — part of the head
  19. pass — a permit
  20. bound — certain
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. suit — clothes
  23. suit — to fit
  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