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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 120 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  14. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  20. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. degree — temperature
  4. track — a path
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. root — of a word
  8. face — part of the head
  9. kid — to tease
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. rock — a stone
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. degree — from a university
  14. kid — child
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. face — to confront
  17. face — to point toward
  18. track — to keep track
  19. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  20. degree — an amount
  21. track — a song
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. root — of a plant
  24. rock — music

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