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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: march · roll · stand · swing · jam · track · ruler · stem

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. roll — a cake
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. march — the month
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. stem — to come from
  10. track — a song
  11. swing — to play on
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. roll — a list
  14. march — the month
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. march — music
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. swing — music
  21. track — a path
  22. stand — to bear
  23. track — to keep track
  24. ruler — for measuring

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