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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: arm · pass · rush · stand · roll · march · foot · stem

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. stand — to bear
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. roll — a list
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. march — the month
  11. rush — hurry
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. pass — a permit
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. march — the month
  17. roll — a cake
  18. march — music
  19. foot — a measure
  20. stem — to come from
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. stand — for spectators

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