ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

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: key · net · mine · fall · pitch · lie · season · toast

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — to recline
  3. season — of the year
  4. season — in sport
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. key — the most important part
  7. net — for catching
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. net — in sport
  10. fall — to drop
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. mine — for digging
  13. fall — the season
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. pitch — completely
  18. net — after costs
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. toast — bread
  22. fall — to drop
  23. key — in music
  24. key — for a lock

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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