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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
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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: stock · game · staff · court · ruler · toast · swing · fan

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. toast — bread
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. stock — shares
  5. stock — goods
  6. staff — employees
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. swing — in golf
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. court — of law
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. court — for sport
  17. staff — employees
  18. swing — music
  19. swing — to play on
  20. court — of a king
  21. game — wild animals
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. staff — a stick

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