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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: deal · suit · cabinet · cap · squash · board · fine · racket

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. suit — in cards
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. squash — to crush
  7. fine — all right
  8. squash — the sport
  9. board — a committee
  10. fine — high quality
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. cap — a lid
  14. cap — of ice
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. suit — to fit
  18. deal — to handle
  19. cap — a hat
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. board — to get on
  24. cabinet — ministers

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