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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: board · firm · ground · cabinet · suit · clip · charge · racket

  1. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. firm — steady
  3. clip — a video
  4. board — to get on
  5. clip — for paper
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. suit — in cards
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. board — a committee
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. ground — the earth
  13. charge — electricity
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. clip — to cut
  16. ground — a position
  17. charge — a price
  18. suit — clothes
  19. suit — to fit
  20. charge — in control
  21. firm — a company
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. firm — decided
  24. ground — crushed

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