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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: club · ruler · date · rush · toast · court · lie · file

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. rush — hurry
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. court — of a king
  7. club — a group
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. court — for sport
  12. court — of law
  13. lie — to recline
  14. date — the fruit
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. club — for golf
  17. file — a tool
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. file — a line of people
  22. club — for dancing
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. toast — bread

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