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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: row · mark · rush · mug · suit · rash · date · ruler

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mug — a cup
  6. rash — a series
  7. mark — a trace
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. row — a line
  10. suit — in cards
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. rush — hurry
  13. suit — clothes
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. suit — to fit
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. rash — hasty
  18. mug — to rob
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. mug — a face
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. date — the fruit
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. ruler — a monarch

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