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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: lash · suit · row · wax · firm · pass · stem · rush

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. row — a line
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. rush — hurry
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. suit — in cards
  7. firm — a company
  8. wax — to grow
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. firm — steady
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. stem — to come from
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. suit — clothes
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. pass — a permit
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. row — to paddle
  24. suit — to fit

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