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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 120 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: spell · foot · stem · can · rule · deal · wax · rush

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. deal — to handle
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. wax — to grow
  5. rule — government
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. can — to be able to
  9. stem — to come from
  10. can — a tin
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. spell — magic
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. can — a tin
  15. spell — letters
  16. rush — hurry
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. foot — a measure
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. rule — a law
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. rule — to rule out

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