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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. cap — a hat
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. row — a line
  5. present — the time now
  6. rock — music
  7. present — there
  8. cap — of ice
  9. rock — a stone
  10. current — electric
  11. cap — a lid
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. row — to paddle
  14. root — the cause
  15. staff — employees
  16. staff — a stick
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. current — of water
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. current — happening now
  21. present — a gift
  22. root — of a plant
  23. root — of a word
  24. staff — employees

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