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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: saw · mark · race · craft · firm · track · bulb · current

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. firm — steady
  3. craft — a skill
  4. mark — a grade
  5. bulb — for light
  6. firm — a company
  7. craft — boats
  8. saw — the tool
  9. current — electric
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. current — of water
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. current — happening now
  16. race — a contest
  17. saw — the tool
  18. race — humankind
  19. track — to keep track
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. mark — a trace
  22. race — the arms race
  23. firm — decided
  24. track — a path

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