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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: roll · calf · current · root · hide · fine · deal · snap

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. roll — a cake
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. root — of a word
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. snap — to click
  8. fine — high quality
  9. deal — to handle
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. fine — all right
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. current — electric
  14. roll — a list
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. root — the cause
  20. root — of a plant
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. current — of water
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. calf — of the leg

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