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: nail · pit · lie · toast · deal · field · ball · track

  1. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. field — for sport
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. track — a path
  9. field — a subject
  10. track — to keep track
  11. track — a song
  12. ball — a great time
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. field — farmland
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. deal — to handle
  19. pit — in a race
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. lie — to recline
  23. toast — bread
  24. ball — a dance

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