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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: root · land · deal · rock · arm · scale · wake · current

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. scale — size or range
  5. rock — a stone
  6. root — of a plant
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. root — the cause
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. current — of water
  11. wake — a trail
  12. scale — in music
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. land — a country
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. land — ground
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. root — of a word
  20. current — electric
  21. deal — to handle
  22. land — to come down
  23. rock — music
  24. current — happening now

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