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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: ruler · rush · file · scale · patient · mine · mug · toast

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. file — a tool
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. toast — bread
  9. mug — to rob
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. file — a line of people
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. scale — in music
  15. mug — a face
  16. mug — a cup
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. mine — for digging
  20. rush — hurry
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. scale — size or range
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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