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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: wax · safe · fine · lie · prune · saw · trunk · bore

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. saw — the tool
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. wax — to grow
  7. bore — to drill
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. bore — to tire
  10. fine — high quality
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. prune — to trim
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. prune — to trim
  20. lie — to recline
  21. fine — all right
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. prune — the fruit

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