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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.

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: current · fan · staff · deal · row · root · degree · hide

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. staff — employees
  3. root — of a word
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. current — happening now
  8. degree — temperature
  9. row — to paddle
  10. root — the cause
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. staff — employees
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. degree — from a university
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. current — of water
  17. root — of a plant
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. current — electric
  20. degree — an amount
  21. staff — a stick
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. deal — to handle

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