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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 120 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: content · mark · key · foot · march · pop · lash · rock

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. pop — music
  3. march — the month
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. mark — a grade
  8. pop — soda
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. key — in music
  11. content — happy
  12. march — music
  13. rock — music
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. content — the amount
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. rock — a stone
  19. march — the month
  20. pop — to visit
  21. key — the most important part
  22. foot — a measure
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. key — for a lock

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