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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: calf · snap · sharp · object · fine · current · root · race

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. current — electric
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. object — an aim
  5. sharp — clever
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. object — to protest
  9. snap — to click
  10. race — the arms race
  11. object — a thing
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. root — of a plant
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. race — a contest
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. root — of a word
  18. race — humankind
  19. current — of water
  20. fine — high quality
  21. current — happening now
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. fine — all right

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