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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: rock · trunk · pitch · pass · toast · lean · mine · lie

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. toast — bread
  3. rock — a stone
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. pass — a permit
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. pitch — completely
  9. mine — for digging
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. lean — thin
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. rock — music
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. lean — to bend
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. lie — to recline
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. pass — to succeed

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