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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: hand · march · key · spell · jam · present · can · track

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. track — a path
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — a tin
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. key — in music
  8. march — the month
  9. key — for a lock
  10. spell — magic
  11. hand — in cards
  12. present — there
  13. present — the time now
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. march — music
  16. track — to keep track
  17. key — the most important part
  18. present — a gift
  19. can — to be able to
  20. spell — a short time
  21. march — the month
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. spell — letters
  24. hand — help

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