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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 · can · deal · jam · craft · track · pass · plane

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. rock — a stone
  3. track — to keep track
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. craft — boats
  6. pass — a permit
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. track — a path
  9. deal — to handle
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. plane — a tool
  12. can — a tin
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. craft — a skill
  15. rock — music
  16. track — a song
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. can — a tin
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. can — to be able to
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. rock — to move gently

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