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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: date · spell · face · temple · club · mug · rush · mark

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. club — for dancing
  3. mug — to rob
  4. club — for golf
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. face — part of the head
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. mug — a cup
  9. spell — a short time
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. mark — a grade
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. face — to point toward
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. date — the fruit
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. face — to confront
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. rush — hurry
  21. mug — a face
  22. club — a group
  23. spell — magic
  24. spell — letters

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