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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: pass · bank · toast · pitch · stock · lash · dip · trunk

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. pitch — completely
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. stock — goods
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. bank — for money
  12. dip — to sink
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. bank — of a river
  16. bank — for money
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. toast — bread
  19. pass — a permit
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. stock — shares
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. trunk — of a tree

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