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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: bass · track · content · arm · pop · foot · pass · roll

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. content — the amount
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. track — to keep track
  8. roll — a list
  9. roll — a cake
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. track — a path
  14. content — happy
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. pass — a permit
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. pop — to visit
  20. bass — the fish
  21. bass — low music
  22. foot — a measure
  23. pop — soda
  24. pop — music

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