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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: trunk · wax · charge · kid · lie · ruler · fine · bore

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. fine — high quality
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bore — to drill
  6. charge — in control
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. charge — a price
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. charge — electricity
  14. kid — child
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. wax — to grow
  18. kid — to tease
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. bore — to tire
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. fine — all right
  24. lie — an untruth

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