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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: trunk · saw · bore · wax · perch · can · safe · cap

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. cap — a hat
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. perch — the fish
  7. cap — of ice
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. can — to be able to
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. saw — the tool
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. bore — to drill
  14. can — a tin
  15. bore — to tire
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. wax — to grow
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. cap — a lid
  20. saw — the tool
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. can — a tin

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