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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: firm · current · stem · mark · safe · rock · rush · saw

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. rock — music
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. firm — steady
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. rock — a stone
  8. mark — a trace
  9. rush — hurry
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. firm — a company
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. firm — decided
  14. saw — the tool
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. saw — the tool
  17. current — electric
  18. current — of water
  19. stem — to come from
  20. mark — a grade
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. current — happening now
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. rush — a thrill

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