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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: pop · board · season · suit · net · bore · cabinet · cap

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. bore — to drill
  3. bore — to tire
  4. net — in sport
  5. net — for catching
  6. pop — music
  7. board — to get on
  8. net — after costs
  9. board — a committee
  10. suit — in cards
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. suit — clothes
  14. pop — soda
  15. pop — to visit
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. cap — of ice
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. cap — a hat
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. cap — a lid
  22. season — in sport
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. season — of the year

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