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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: track · foot · roll · charge · snap · branch · bear · jam

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. branch — a division
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. track — a song
  6. track — to keep track
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. bear — the animal
  10. foot — a measure
  11. charge — a price
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. charge — in control
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. bear — the animal
  17. charge — electricity
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. track — a path
  21. snap — to click
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. roll — a cake

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