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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: fine · stock · sharp · pass · suit · rash · pitch · date

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. pitch — completely
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. fine — all right
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. fine — high quality
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. rash — hasty
  9. suit — in cards
  10. stock — goods
  11. date — the fruit
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. stock — shares
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. rash — a series
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. suit — clothes
  21. suit — to fit
  22. sharp — clever
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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