2nd grade multiple-meaning words worksheets

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Multiple-meaning words have one spelling and more than one meaning, like nail, star or foot. Second graders read a short sentence and choose which meaning the word has there. The other words in the sentence are the clue. It is the same context-clue skill second grade reading standards ask for.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core L.2.4.a.

Each print is a different sheet with its own answer key. You don't need to sign up.

The kind of sentences you'll get

Read each sentence. Circle the letter of the meaning the word has in that sentence.

  1. Squirrels store nuts to eat in the winter. Here, “store” means . to put away to use later · a place that sells things

    Answer: to put away to use later

  2. You may pet the pony if you ask first. Here, “pet” means . an animal you keep · to pat it softly
  3. Mia’s wooden top twirled across the kitchen floor. Here, “top” means . the highest part · a toy that spins

Every print pulls a new set of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different mix.

What's on a 2nd grade sheet

2nd grade sheets draw from 60 sentences, 8 to a page. None of these sentences are on 3rd grade sheets. 3rd grade sheets print 10 to a page.

Some of the answers:

a person who is famousthings you wear to seea little insecta round, juicy fruita large thin clotha garden vegetableto press it flata sticker for maila small labelto turn over and over

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.

How to teach this

Read each sentence aloud with your child, then ask what is happening in it. Who is there, and what are they doing? Once the picture is clear, one meaning usually sounds silly. Ask them to point to the word that gave it away, like pinky for the nail you paint or sky for the star that shines. For extra practice, say a word like cold or roll, and take turns making up a sentence for each meaning.

Watch for: Both answer choices are real meanings of the word; that's the point. The question is never which meaning exists, only which one this sentence uses. The clue is rarely the word itself and almost always its neighbors: cave and flew for the animal bat, swung and home run for the wooden one.

Common questions about 2nd grade multiple-meaning words

What are multiple-meaning words in 2nd grade?
They are everyday words a second grader already knows in two ways, like foot, ball, ear and top. A foot is part of your body, and a foot is also 12 inches. The sentence tells you which one is meant.
How do I help my child pick the right meaning?
Have them cover the choices and tell you what the sentence is about first. Then read both meanings and ask which one fits that picture. The clue is almost always a nearby word, like corn next to ear.
Are multiple-meaning words the same as homophones?
No. Homophones sound alike but are spelled differently, like sea and see. Multiple-meaning words keep the same spelling and the same sound, like a bat that flies and a bat that hits a ball.

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Aligned to Common Core L.2.4.a. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 241, updated October 2026.

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