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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: fan · ruler · deal · cap · sharp · current · root · chip

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. cap — a lid
  3. root — of a plant
  4. current — happening now
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. cap — a hat
  10. deal — to handle
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. root — of a word
  14. chip — for betting
  15. current — of water
  16. cap — of ice
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. root — the cause
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. current — electric
  21. sharp — clever
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. ruler — for measuring

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