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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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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: rush · ruler · temple · stick · spell · club · toast · mark

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. spell — magic
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. mark — a trace
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. toast — bread
  13. mark — a grade
  14. club — for golf
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. club — for dancing
  20. club — a group
  21. rush — hurry
  22. spell — a short time
  23. spell — letters
  24. toast — the most admired

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