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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: chip · pass · lie · shower · stock · wax · trunk · suit

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. shower — rain
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. wax — to grow
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. chip — for betting
  10. lie — to recline
  11. suit — in cards
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. shower — to wash
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. chip — to eat
  17. stock — goods
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. suit — to fit
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. stock — shares
  24. suit — clothes

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