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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: rash · pass · stock · present · trunk · cabinet · deal · pitch

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. deal — to handle
  5. present — a gift
  6. stock — shares
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. present — the time now
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. present — there
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. pitch — completely
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. stock — goods
  22. rash — hasty
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. rash — a series

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