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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: mark · can · pop · season · pass · roll · straw · foot

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. can — a tin
  3. straw — a straw man
  4. pop — music
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. roll — a cake
  7. pass — a permit
  8. foot — a measure
  9. season — of the year
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. mark — a trace
  12. straw — to clutch at straws
  13. mark — a grade
  14. season — in sport
  15. can — to be able to
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. straw — dry grass
  19. pop — to visit
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. roll — a list
  22. pop — soda
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. can — a tin

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