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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: cap · cabinet · ground · board · bay · season · suit · kick

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. suit — in cards
  3. kick — a thrill
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. season — of the year
  8. cap — a hat
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. board — a committee
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. season — in sport
  13. cap — of ice
  14. suit — to fit
  15. board — to get on
  16. ground — a position
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. ground — crushed
  20. suit — clothes
  21. kick — in football
  22. ground — the earth
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. cap — a lid

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