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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 120 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: cap · mouse · cabinet · track · craft · current · deal · saw

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. cap — a hat
  3. current — electric
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. current — of water
  6. saw — the tool
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. craft — boats
  10. saw — the tool
  11. current — happening now
  12. track — a song
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. track — to keep track
  15. cap — a lid
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. track — a path
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. cap — of ice
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. deal — to handle

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