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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: jam · can · track · root · game · march · foot · pass

  1. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. can — to be able to
  4. pass — a permit
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. track — a path
  7. track — a song
  8. game — wild animals
  9. can — a tin
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. root — the cause
  13. game — a match
  14. root — of a plant
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. root — of a word
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. can — a tin
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. march — the month
  22. march — the month
  23. track — to keep track
  24. foot — a measure

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